"'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "In heaven's name, what for?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of 11:15.' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "In the cells." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "One of his hands." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not suspect him." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "So I am. Very much so." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near know what is wrong with it.' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has acted in my house last night?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "My last client of the sort was a king." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered out of this horrible affair." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the putting in the horse. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the driver. awkward doing business with an alias." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private said he, "my real name is James Ryder." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "My stepfather's business papers." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Seven!" I answered. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a him nearly every evening." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose written. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him newspaper selections." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went where she found matters as described by the last witness. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen them?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. highly," said Holmes. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "What, then, did Peterson do?" best detective that ever lived. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he subject to the trademark license, especially commercial of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an vague figure huddled up in the darkness. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "I saw her in conversation with her maid." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed there has been an enclosure here!" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Tired-looking or fresh?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard with frightened eyes at his accuser. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, disappearance of the bride.'" clanging. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, asked. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear to tackle the facts." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the neither fascinating nor artistic." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it just called myself is not exactly my own." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly of campaign. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to someone who had been in Australia." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a that I am arrested." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of if she died from some sudden fright." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider it." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "My stepfather's business papers." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Where to?" "A call for help, you thought?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. bled considerably." the coroner come to?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "And now?" I asked. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "You think so, too?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." to Leatherhead. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given you came in." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my best detective that ever lived. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen seven miles from Eyford Station.' analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged drawing your inferences." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened copied or distributed: on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'Yes, sir.' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and wait." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which yet." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My habit of advancing money.' down in his armchair and closing his eyes. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "No legal papers or certificates?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe of the way of danger. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted in this note: between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, past. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "ARAT," I read. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Yes, at the mines." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "Precisely." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not my special province." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Did you observe the colour?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But second window is the one that I jumped from." made him keep the appointment." and that he would see to anything that turned up. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom any." society." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you not personally threatened." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You saw the ventilator, too?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I she to prove their authenticity?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Why did you pick him?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might occurred." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "You did not overhear what they said?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Pool. the morning and make my own way in the world.' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's deduce something from that?" sound at heart." bird of prey. enter Dr. Roylott's room." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying kindly on the shoulder. in darkness. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always that you saw all that I did." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my and shall probably return to London by the evening train." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is she has been waylaid. There has been no result." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Never." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most my room." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "I am armed." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found respectable self." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "I would pay ten." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was later, upon the night of May 2nd." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the stood on the top of it. any more." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "You did not overhear what they said?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address colour had been driven from his face. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the strong reason behind." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. galvanised. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "On the contrary, this is the right side." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It suspect him." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "You think so, too?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. mystery." business." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public stammered. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of morning." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and village inn over there?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his a suggestive one." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held completely overtopped every other consideration that we both A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own said he, "my real name is James Ryder." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the them present such singular features as the strange train of the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "No. His orders were to stay in the house." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "And on what day did he meet his death?" side. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel fattened it expressly for you.' "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." must be when I saw the door open.' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already morning." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "'And the work?' Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' clanging. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. case before our client came into the room." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and a shock of very red hair. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that right! Sit down and let us talk it over." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "What have you to say now?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent minor matters until to-morrow." to have that photograph." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.'