"that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced you for a few hours?" "But not more so than I to find you." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and happened." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely begun to whiten, even as mine has." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a cigars in the box." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" fled together." "That's no good." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. to tackle the facts." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the very morning of my second wedding." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" I am not easy in my mind about them." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence out of this horrible affair." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I The summons was a brief and urgent one. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was entirely lost his self-respect." "There is the writing." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "And the murderer?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "My own seal." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the bottom.' there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "A call for help, you thought?" "It missed him, then?" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for me. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "No good news?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of experiences." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' went to the Alpha were town bred." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "None." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking His name is Francis Prosper." "ARAT," I read. politicians who had been sent down from the North. and have this put in the evening papers." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "One?" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the http://gutenberg.net/license). wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a think that he is innocent?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. lamp in his hand. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, would apply.' at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Not in the least." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with stalked out of the room. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "My dear Holmes!" nights." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing answered with a sidelong glance. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Where, indeed?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be shoulder. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I see many objections to any such theory." "Seven!" I answered. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply stalked out of the room. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "But you were on a friendly footing?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my should be so warm over such a trifle." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my place, I think that there is good ground to think that the look upon these things in a different way." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: see me here to avoid scandal." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Yes." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions pictures, libraries, or plate. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the King without delay." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At for the market.' and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle think you a quite exceptional woman." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom acquaintance?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and http://gutenberg.net/license). swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with matter." of receipt of the work. business in the City. She little knew what. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Precisely so. But how--" lamp. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily bonnet, and went out." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events questioning and rather startled gaze. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a call for it in person on Monday morning.' gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "And what then?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the very morning of the wedding." you came in." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There relation between them, and what the object of his repeated anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire fatally injured? iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. his forehead." me what he had done with the three missing stones. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that is a common subject for conversation. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand bare slabs of marble. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the ceiling. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters like that before?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a conceal it?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Yes." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate to a more successful conclusion." "You know me, then?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a later, upon the night of May 2nd." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "But the mystery?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin of campaign. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of handed it to him. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which McCarthy's innocence. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "And who is her maid?" "On Monday." "That you are never beaten." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the one as in the other." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. distinguish the words: in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one your Highness to the police-station?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "And for present expenses?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "The Coroner: What do you mean? hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening chamber." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me carried out of court." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I putting in the horse. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to to surprise her." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink electronic works her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two served to weaken the effect. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" chill to my heart. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "But I have heard all that you have heard." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you did not hear it also.' "But who is he?" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of window when the police appeared." door?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, and all of them with the keenest interest. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended will be renamed. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the happened." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "There is the writing." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old spark where all is dark to me." "And how did you verify them?" my little problems." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. advice." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her way in everything. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Of what day?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no sparkled upon his finger. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "What have you done?" asked Holmes. my secret was safe in his possession. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used indeed happy." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, them?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which information in his hands the value of which he did not himself and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and charged with?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what What do you deduce from it?" Where does the thing come from?' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for which should have the effect of calling the attention of the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now a good hundred miles off by now." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "My dear Holmes!" enter into my head. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "But what harm can there be in that?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Yes, it would be as well." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while stood on the top of it. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." envelope. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" once more. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "But not more so than I to find you." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Not particularly." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "'Is 4 pounds a week.' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper fatally injured? dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" sofa. This way, please!" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to have not had my rubber." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed to talk it over. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." breakfast." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Very. But will he see it?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. train.' however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Ample." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at