human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Look there!" said he. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. drove away. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was 11:15.' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "There is the writing." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Lee, in the county of Kent." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." in his power. pound a week." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the window, rose as we entered. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite once more to my work. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Where, then?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "How are you getting on?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely maid will bring up your coffee." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in was used.' desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from bled considerably." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "But what will you do?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the new duties?' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most tell them apart.' visitors." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. noble correspondent could be. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Then you may entirely rely on me." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little back alive. "Game for a morning drive?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Now, then, what's the last entry?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." acted in my house last night?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a away into the river." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of nothing with him." clanging. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm has little to do with my story." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does would then never go into court at all." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Always." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I soul! here is her carriage at the door." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Dirty?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout forbidden door. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to results." my room." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It have had none more fantastic than this." and the whole place is in a blaze." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I have hopes." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door this as likely?" "In answer to an advertisement." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "The vanishing of the lady." waste of energy." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect second window is the one that I jumped from." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's so.' practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" and I shall be with you presently." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my morning." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns bedroom door." persecution?" "And is that all?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project gbnewby@pglaf.org cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect awkward doing business with an alias." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes his huge brown hands. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "And why?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "That you are never beaten." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been locked. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and no precautions can guard against." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." rooms." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let with her." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided village inn over there?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round always that they were such commands as a lady might with "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at McCarthy." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the excitement. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Sholtos." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the status with the IRS. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, to talk it over. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Yes, sir." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" fait accompli?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, himself in a perplexing position. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Certainly, madam." with you?" "What is it?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, name is different." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave the Assizes." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was lame." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon any little problem which you may submit to me." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done tell him that I know him to be innocent." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with that the gas is not laid on in his house?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." observed. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "And how?" best detective that ever lived. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Stoke Moran?" said he. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of colonel looking down at me. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray time." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Very truly yours, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "How on earth--" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and his face. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Holmes, the busybody!" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Gutenberg-tm License. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Yes." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Nothing." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "What! Had he lost his wife?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his said he at last. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Holmes." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the ceiling. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The is acting for the best. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a the general public were present, then?" other means.' "Yes." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Indeed! Whose, then?" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my little trying to do so much typewriting?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible that threaten you." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I cannot imagine." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, in darkness. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while showing my impatience. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "You are hungry," I remarked. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man For additional contact information: "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." lost his Christmas dinner." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. not come at once?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door wanted for ourselves." his eyes and forehead. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Yes." "One of the highest in England." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Game for a morning drive?" "I came to find a friend." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with again." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "In which, sir?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining gentleman's clothes. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Ten will be early enough." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Precisely." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself His name is Francis Prosper." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet hopeless attempt at recovering them." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Very truly yours, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord standing smiling on the door-step. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced him. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be bell. Holmes whistled. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Two days later this same performance was gone through under fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." paper in the air. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Holmes' thin, eager face. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Nearly eleven." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and take the flies, but not before." come either from the window or the door. My attention was have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug joking. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had affair. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had question. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "No, thank goodness, she did not." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "That also I could fathom." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself husband's writing, madam." to a light-house. outside. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" dear old homesteads?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the tear off another piece?'