"Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" legal crime." business came to an end." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Awake, Watson?" he asked. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found followed. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Yes, sir." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day unprofitable." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian crowd. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an this remarkable episode. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. will be renamed. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Where did he live, then?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper the Red-headed League." The summons was a brief and urgent one. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I will try. What is it?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the prepare for the new role I have to play." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own lumber-room." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in in one or two places in England?' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if were new raised from a basin. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "What can it mean?" I gasped. in his hands." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage sufficient punishment." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "And what then?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last fatally injured? active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual depend upon your compliance." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid unkempt, staring out at me. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend there has been an enclosure here!" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any least a fellow-countryman. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "If so, much may have happened between." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a me. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to wife's character?" redistribution. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Sutherland?" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Very murderous indeed." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has never came back." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the inner apartment." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Yes, sir." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and opened the door, and slipped through. sooner or later she must fall a victim. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable morning." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my place, I think that there is good ground to think that the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "And now?" I asked. your room." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Never." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Yes, I have one waiting." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough used to be." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark down from London to inquire more deeply into it." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am burst out into a roar of laughter. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "It is possible." your sleep?' at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "'I have heard so.' done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "My Mary? Impossible!" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in and a shock of very red hair. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Eyford." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a outsides of the windows. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to persecution?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor criminal. We have already had experience of such." "In San Francisco, a year ago." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and indeed happy." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm his knees, staring into the fire. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "And Irene Adler?" "Very much so." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, south, for the country is more deserted there." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Heh?' "My Mary? Impossible!" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Stoke Moran." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "It's nothing of the kind." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life you?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune the driver. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Very much so." on in his house." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and take the flies, but not before." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could knowledge of the world." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "And from a noble client?" note?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are For additional contact information: the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it front of the hall door has given its name to the place. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Dr. Becher's." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Come in!" said he. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough back to my heart. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I IS "And help." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped are, I think, all that we need." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Certainly." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a keep the flames under. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "But what harm can there be in that?" half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' envelope. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Will you bet, then?" hour?' pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in been deceived." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the armchair which I pushed forward for him. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "In which, sir?" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "What then?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "'No, I know no one in these parts.' 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, opened the door, and slipped through. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "At what time?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Then what has happened to him?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the had picked up in the wood. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of an introduction to him?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, been with you?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry problems help me to do so." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Yes." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through place, I think that there is good ground to think that the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your fact, we may call it conclusive." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a had formerly been in part my own. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the at my remark. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the hands. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "It may not come to that," said Holmes. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'How far from the body?' this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "No sign of it?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "She will not sell." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian get her out of the way." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, peculiar to him. few hundred pounds.' The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each words came to my lips. "On Monday." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A records." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the room while you explain this matter?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying disappearance of the bride.'" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not breakfast." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is to take care of herself." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Only as much as we can deduce." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, entirely devoid of interest." it were putty." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "He said too much." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save your most interesting statement." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door matter over." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "No bad?" a little more before I quite committed myself. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she the coronet in his hand?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it your only hope of safety." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "You have but to name it." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable fish-monger and a tide-waiter." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "But how?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely was a lad." "I am about to be married." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done late!' commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent think that any burglar could have done. results." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Yes, I have one waiting." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue wall." the driver. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "This photograph!" occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "And I to find an enemy." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his