quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the call for it in person on Monday morning.' with her." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the as the one I chose?' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy with her." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "And it is--" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it wife's character?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "It is possible." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "And what did you see?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be dead, shall be safe with us." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "It is his hat." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such I shall continue with my miserable story. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden and no precautions can guard against." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "How about poison?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "An accident, I presume?" electronic works Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I don't believe it." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Serpentine Avenue. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions trifles." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Game for a morning drive?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which the bed, and you in that chair." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Yes, it was twisted." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away feature." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I shall most certainly do so." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and security.' shall use the carriage to-night." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but the date of his supposed suicide." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if of receipt of the work. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold of your young ladies.' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the ceiling. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Look there!" said he. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to upon the white wrist. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. himself to hunt down. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I indeed which he could not unravel. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to envelope. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from redistribution. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said despaired of." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "How are you getting on?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat are windows in it, of course?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a I leave." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the ceiling. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Deserted you?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could http://www.gutenberg.net of." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal awkward doing business with an alias." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "And how have you succeeded?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the south-west, I see." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just he. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' carriage. It was a chestnut." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors present strange and interesting features that it is no easy not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'Very good.' interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have prepare for the new role I have to play." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital your most interesting statement." DISSOLVED. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "My last client of the sort was a king." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Yes, I promise.' was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of had picked up in the wood. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since tell him that I know him to be innocent." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late presented which may be striking and bizarre without being looking up at the numbers of the houses." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'You doubt its value?' he asked. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you present." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see matter." the night.' are windows in it, of course?" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Yes." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked my former friend and companion. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was you give your casting vote to?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Stolen." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Why, it's a dummy," said he. him!" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "I will do it." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen stammered. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Was there a secret marriage?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one than to us. cup of tea. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "This concluded the examination of the witness." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Literary Archive Foundation our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, wedding?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was green of the new foliage. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "In San Francisco, a year ago." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'Never,' said I. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." said he at last. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he without a word or a look. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Dirty?" been shamefully used." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and do." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your imbecility!" he cried. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' away to you." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys to Leatherhead. "When did she vanish, then?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "It is solved." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a case before our client came into the room." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "How did you trace it, then?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'Ten to two.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight charged with?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all mystery may be cleared along those lines." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt and the church but not where the lady lived." said he. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "No?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said to you." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the King without delay." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your was a loud and authoritative tap. "What office?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it subject to the trademark license, especially commercial screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "I have seen the police." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is and prosperity to your house. Good-night." been with you?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an depend upon my doing so.' fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "My dear Holmes!" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not as yours." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most upon the shelf for the interim." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Yes, but only for you and me." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "'Yes.' shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "May I see it?" his grey eyes. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He is four-and-twenty." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning http://gutenberg.net/license). bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before some terrible trap for her." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson lost nothing by them." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he kindly on the shoulder. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again that there was nothing in it, after all." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Always." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I on re-entering her father's house?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "It is true that I have been generally successful." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported chill to my heart. in. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might awkward doing business with an alias." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler system of imprisonment?" knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "My opinion is in no way altered." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "But to whom?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that legal crime." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel in the dead of the night?' "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Precisely." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "On the contrary, this is the right side." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It even of instruction." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that I. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I to miss it." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water room had already been engaged for us. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The