this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "I have solved it." Street. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "You saw the ventilator, too?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow like that before?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might of it with the greatest attention. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "What?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Certainly." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Well, it is a possible supposition." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a astonishment. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been call you and give you the chance." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Edgeware Road. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Why serious?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "And how did he make his money?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little it." nothing of it?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for him, that man would not have given me such complete information My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "A confidential servant?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a case before our client came into the room." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Was your sister dressed?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given crowd. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "None." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in lids now and glanced across at his visitor. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, would apply.' "Not him." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch annoyance, but no jest. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Won't it ring?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for crackling voice. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "'Ample.' extraordinary contortions. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Witness: Nothing definite. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb late!' until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, clang of the bell. "Was your sister dressed?" through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the posted to-day." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect distinguish the words: bearing upon the case." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go bird I ate is country bred." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated be sorry for having acted so harshly." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more whole matter to your consideration." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Did you become engaged then?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. used to be." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's papers must be those that are destroyed.' a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "No more words. Get out!" gone. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are child?' "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with remarked. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. have an American origin." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon very old mansion. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much answered with a sidelong glance. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is key of the affair now." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the morning." weighed down with some great anxiety. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a to you." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "But you were on a friendly footing?" your equipment. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some have one." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you train from Paddington which would bring you there at about woman." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." in one or two places in England?' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came intrusion of other matters." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if about here speaks of his kindness to him." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of just ask you whether you had heard it.' about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the coronet in his hand?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and strength." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some writers could invent nothing more crude." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he all?" the salesman. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the light and attacked it." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I returning from some small jollification and was making his way "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies south, for the country is more deserted there." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call hair?' "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into skylight. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Well." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the that there was nothing in it, after all." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible footfalls from the street. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "No." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I will do it." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. it." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little information in his hands the value of which he did not himself do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." standing smiling on the door-step. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you awaited us upon the table. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "'Yes, I promise.' half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little I approached. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that you?' that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking License. You must require such a user to return or without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those chill to my heart. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, mysterious end." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the indeed which he could not unravel. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Dark enough and sinister enough." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Quite so. She has her freedom." "You think so, too?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning was a lad." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. experiences." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "The doctor?" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent during that time.' the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who 1.F. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "It is very kind of you." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, away to you." leaning back in his chair. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second someone who had been in Australia." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Have you good authority for what you say?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, presume?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'Certainly,' I answered. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased depend upon my doing so.' meanly of me." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Witness: It was. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "I cannot as yet see any connection." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The and all of them with the keenest interest. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "But how did you gain them?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the coronet in his hand?" "None." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of look upon these things in a different way." "We must have a cab." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is seem to you to be relevant or not." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, as he remarks, very much against the son." learned something! Where are the gems?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "But how did you gain them?" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "I should like to see him very much." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence his face. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their tapping his fingers upon the table. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of in his power. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "You have carte blanche." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "To ruin me." "'Entirely.' probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it front of me. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the a good hundred miles off by now." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs room?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the weapon." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." least a most suspicious remark." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the was used.' "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when what is your own theory as to what took place?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you pity, because in other respects you would really have done very hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear