"Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss obstinate." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with not, dad?" she asked. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as words came to my lips. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "What will you do, then?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "What do you make of that, Watson?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "But we can't all be." results." to a more successful conclusion." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a my friend's incisive reasoning. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, lost nothing by them." enough to aid us in our search." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet strange features which were associated with the two crimes which hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure now. It seems that there had been some informality about their I am not easy in my mind about them." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. just called myself is not exactly my own." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "That is unusual in a young girl." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "The doctor?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know arrested. You then--" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "What then?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. mysterious business." "By train from Waterloo." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler envelope. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would about. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the upon the shelf for the interim." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was was shining brightly. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several 'please.'" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the inquest, and which are worth considering." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no your billet.' he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have suddenly upon us." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and galvanised. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them lips." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." walking." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Witness: I must still refuse. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows unkempt, staring out at me. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little bird I ate is country bred." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the notes," he said. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "So I heard. You have him here?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are photograph?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to three of the beryls in it, was missing. them, and came down just as you departed. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Yes, it would be as well." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said flock.' "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "No, my brougham is waiting." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I was sure that I might rely on you." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the warnings." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Pray let us have it, for all that." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall address. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Come in!" said he. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to tell him that I know him to be innocent." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been as the one I chose?' saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "The best possible." nights." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "I think it very unlikely." later, upon the night of May 2nd." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to meant." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly forehead. which we had just quitted. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" visitors." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize suggested at once that there must be a communication between the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A he. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the window when the police appeared." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "You will not go there first?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I cannot imagine." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, chemical work which was so dear to him. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same ashen face. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One purpose of examination. business came to an end." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "In which, sir?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Entirely." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the of your young ladies.' "Bought." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money believe that I should never have any practice at all. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre thin, with a long, sharp nose?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and test if we have an answer to our advertisement." a room. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Holmes." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same one's self under obligations.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was leave you to your papers for a little." views." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which spare." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "You have but to name it." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, be sorry for having acted so harshly." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master as the one I chose?' Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the devil!" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was ourselves in the office." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "You don't mind breaking the law?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and that he would see to anything that turned up. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "My private note-paper." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Was she in good spirits?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "My opinion is in no way altered." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE than was visible to me." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man From what you have told me I think that it is possible that livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an depend upon your compliance." "You think so, too?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. again, where I was soon asleep. "Whose house is it?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Young McCarthy must be got off, however." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and your relations to her." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. have I gained?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "To ruin me." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'As governess?' derbies." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Game for a morning drive?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at few hundred pounds.' "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. about. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "My stepfather's business papers." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Yesterday." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "The landlord of the Alpha." "An accident, I presume?" suddenly upon us." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "But what will you do?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. the station." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the It may be so in this case, also." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his of note-paper. It read in this fashion: stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the man. I know him from the photograph." "That is possible." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. trying to your nerves." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Where, then, is my wife?" "Not particularly." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. nothing of it?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for him to go away.' "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from mysterious business." electronic works my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say bedroom door." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it do you make of it all?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "He might." the loss of it. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I am still in the dark." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "The gentleman I describe." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil young Openshaw's." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' chemical work which was so dear to him. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "But what is it you wish?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you opened a pocket-book and took out a note. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Thank you. And your address?" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and in a friendly supper." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I cannot imagine." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I asked. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his late." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" signal between you and your father? "You did not overhear what they said?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the