"But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." III. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I am armed." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "My Mary? Impossible!" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice tell them apart.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." his knees, staring into the fire. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with roused himself from his reverie. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "'What are you doing there?' he asked. crime." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, leaning back in his chair. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I cannot tell." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm side. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and placed his cuttings. go from here to the Strand." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "How are you getting on?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across do you make of it all?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me green of the new foliage. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I have solved it." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. business came to an end." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day public press." matter." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual laugh and put his lips to my ear. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. maid will bring up your coffee." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was few hundred pounds.' Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "And you thought he was pulled back?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, forbidden door. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about window when the police appeared." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "My opinion is in no way altered." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "My last client of the sort was a king." once more for Briony Lodge. "They are typewritten," I remarked. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly have established a very serious case against the son of the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "I have come for advice." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "His face fell immediately. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in a very precise fashion." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "What?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor said he, "my real name is James Ryder." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY chemical work which was so dear to him. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Absolutely?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Eyford." it right.' met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the be.' go from here to the Strand." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his you." "Yes, it was twisted." will he say when he returns?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Yes." think, you have already met." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door head. So long, then!" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Well." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to interest. They are important, you understand, without being clang of the bell. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and of his shoulders. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came meant it for the best. ready to-morrow?' police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, purpose equally well?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "9th. McCauley cleared. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project him nearly every evening." confronted him. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. cigars in their mouths. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Certainly not.' rose-bushes. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I assure you that I am in your hands." "And how did he make his money?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of furiously. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Very much so." if only as a check to my own memory." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of learned something! Where are the gems?" reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free here and I will read it to you: "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "To an English lawyer named Norton." room. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "How long did she speak to this Alice?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She few hundred pounds.' foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw strange features which were associated with the two crimes which shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is that you wished to speak to me?' younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." with frightened eyes at his accuser. the little opening for the ventilator is." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Yes, I have one waiting." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, village inn over there?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "There is the writing." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as during which he might have communicated with his friend the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his meant it for the best. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "But it has twice been burgled." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "To ruin me." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' envelope. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his our word." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now handed it to him. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court he. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good noble correspondent could be. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." outbreak?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "And what then?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: woman." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I place no limit on the sum I may draw." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Dr. Gregory B. Newby to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." know all about it," he snarled. an introduction to him?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "The King of Scandinavia." "What is it, then--a fire?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a hard-headed British jury." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." His name is Francis Prosper." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of populous neighbourhood." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his lumber-room." an introduction to him?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Certainly." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an it right.' in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' laugh and put his lips to my ear. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend train.' "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be congratulate you again." suspect him." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Tired-looking or fresh?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read sake, don't!" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'Yes, sir.' and put his glass in his pocket. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for his grey eyes. "It is possible." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "My last client of the sort was a king." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "There is the writing." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close my secret was safe in his possession. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I am about to be married." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to call it cruel." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources chemical work which was so dear to him. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow lost nothing by them." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might second." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird nothing of it?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were fait accompli?" river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a DISSOLVED. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or over part of the map. "What do you read?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of there in twenty minutes." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I galvanised. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Very. But will he see it?" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." if I call to-morrow?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of in the hope of finding them." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier him and tried to hold him back. I. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom he died? "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting digesting their breakfasts at home." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "No sign of it?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be soul! here is her carriage at the door." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "You are certainly joking, Holmes." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land four million human beings all jostling each other within the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "What! a murderous attack?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham questionable one." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him entirely devoid of interest." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, I shall continue with my miserable story. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a strength."