suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Witness: Nothing definite. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Pool. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. gigantic client. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing until night should bring an explanation. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "No, finished." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been not, dad?" she asked. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That business came to an end." "Well, but China?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Then I do not see the point." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at upon a handsome competence. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. kindly on the shoulder. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the off." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather papers on the sundial.'" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point outsides of the windows. "None." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'Where to?' many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the fishes. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "But who is he?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Her father is very rich?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some such person." in the dead of the night?' "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a least a most suspicious remark." "Yes." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the house with me." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in excitement. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "And how have you succeeded?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "No, I am descending." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to dead, shall be safe with us." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for opportunities to fix the problem. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said were unconscious?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Which are?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "I am about to be married." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'Certainly not.' half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the some city in a dream. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "'I have heard so.' the bed, and you in that chair." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You was it brought him the coronet? struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's arrangements." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Perhaps we may make them less so." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which exactly what you advise." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had DAMAGE. "Yes." front of me. entirely devoid of interest." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a look upon these things in a different way." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin imbecility!" he cried. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "But not more so than I to find you." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." case-book, which he consulted. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing bed dies. Does not that strike you?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had bird I ate is country bred." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you be there in time for your coming." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A served to weaken the effect. "The rest you will leave in our hands." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "By no means." if only as a check to my own memory." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. and the church but not where the lady lived." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two enter into my head. could go. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "And for present expenses?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is of fine shops and stately business premises that they really myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he may have an influence upon European history." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For them?" of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "At half-wages, in fact." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very these bleak autumnal evenings." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to before the coroner and the police-court." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, narrative." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is your bag." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "What, then?" Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some heavy and sharp instrument." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press to affect your life." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the side-table." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "It is no ordinary one." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at sparkled upon his finger. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "None." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "I should like to see him very much." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles you give your casting vote to?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return During two years I have had three consultations and one small William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "And your mother is alive?" rose-bushes. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The fishes. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Perhaps I have." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the night.' "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my acquaintance?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, prisoner's face. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "The vanishing of the lady." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and signal between you and your father? the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), was already answered. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the 1.F. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, is so. I know all about McCarthy." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point present strange and interesting features that it is no easy into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to key of the affair now." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing long narrative. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "There is the writing." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project suspect him." "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "And why?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention had died away into the silence from which it rose. obstinate." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'As governess?' few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Won't it ring?" south, for the country is more deserted there." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "BALLARAT." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Then what has happened to him?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which conceal it?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. outside. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "It surprised me." outsides of the windows. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "To ruin me." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some one's self under obligations.' Stoke Moran." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "'Which dealer's?' along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Leadenhall Street--and--" "It is possible." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I have hopes." "'It is locked up,' I answered. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, never to learn it at all." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some only touch the interest." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I think that I had better go, Holmes." door?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and of campaign. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better be best to do. man. once more. "No good news?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened front of the hall door has given its name to the place. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging companion imperturbably. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'Stolen!' he cried. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, do." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "'I am sure that I do not know.'