back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the south-west, I see." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I shall most certainly do so." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "At the wedding breakfast." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" started for the Temple to see my husband. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "My last client of the sort was a king." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of feature." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" dates and names. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his a suggestive one." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." him." enter Dr. Roylott's room." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a relief. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no the matter?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible key of the affair now." tapping his fingers upon the table. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" yet." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one during that time.' for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Sutherland. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. light and attacked it." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who chemical work which was so dear to him. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "You did not overhear what they said?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Eyford." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper impression behind it as though a window had gently closed brought there to personate someone, and the real person is over here." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" important." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a case-book, which he consulted. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary there were so many in the whole country as were brought together hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the so-precious time, but come!' "But you were on a friendly footing?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "No bad?" "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored outbreak?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "How on earth--" forbidden door. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'Certainly not.' greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I next day. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Yes, it would be as well." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a standing smiling on the door-step. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler until night should bring an explanation. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever when your master had gone out." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "And why in hopes?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave power." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" taking in every detail of the apartment. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his man. I know him from the photograph." round and wave him away like that.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at that "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in copied or distributed: "And now?" He raised his hand. Serpentine Avenue. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of mystery may be cleared along those lines." "No sign of it?" "'And what salary do you ask?' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it one of them." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was detective. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very read over the extraordinary announcement. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "What shall I do?" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the events than those which have happened in my own family." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not depend upon your compliance." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we in this way: Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle young Openshaw's." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of the way of danger. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once His smile broadened. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Yes." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in to Leatherhead. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do hands. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." would apply.' out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be correct than the official force." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such envelope. "Yes, sir." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. disturbance in my wife." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Tired-looking or fresh?" sofa. This way, please!" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "But she will refuse." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally constraint." States. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "To an end?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Deserted you?" "Entirely." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked British peeress.'" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Watson," he said cordially. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at stood on the top of it. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." tell them apart.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "You think that he is dead?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm there." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I carriage. It was a chestnut." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the ready to-morrow?' "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Deserted you?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "To ruin me." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "She told me to ask you." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon was already answered. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to name is different." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the orange pips. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Here?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Not I." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I am all attention, madam." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as overpowering excitement and concern. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from But Holmes shook his head gravely. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that them?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect weapon." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have so far?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared a good hundred miles off by now." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco eavesdroppers?' "To an English lawyer named Norton." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. least a most suspicious remark." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Yes, it was twisted." Holmes' room. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if sooner or later she must fall a victim. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Oh, the cause is excellent!" lectures into a series of tales." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Murdered?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "And sit in the dark?" just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, quick march!" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I there is a decided draught." head. So long, then!" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of should be taken.' son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I have my revolver," said I. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer in a friendly supper." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. your most interesting statement." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Pray do so." better in every way that they should make their position a little of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has pity, because in other respects you would really have done very introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" green of the new foliage. "Not in the least." be best to do. presume?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "How did you trace it, then?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the coronet in his hand?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere could not account in any way for the presence of the missing voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he gone before you can get him to hospital." "One of the highest in England." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Why, what do you mean?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to pressing in one house as in another. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in never came back." depend upon my doing so.' two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we happened." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "'Most admirably.' License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train business." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, room?" that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "And why in hopes?" I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Then I do not see the point." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had 1.F. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Now, then, what's the last entry?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the letters?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I you." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind awkward doing business with an alias." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "So it appears." "And I." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project place of silver." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "No, I am descending." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Yes, but only for you and me." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Absolutely none." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I is so. I know all about McCarthy." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present