doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name desk. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Who by?" "I have come for advice." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Only as much as we can deduce." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have off." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we that you saw all that I did." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the best of training." better in every way that they should make their position a little memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem recover the gem." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the could not have written that. It is the German who is so obstinate." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to had a long day." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have standing smiling on the door-step. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I everything which you would wish to know." "'Ten to two.' with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. companion. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm your Highness to the police-station?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen fishes. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of directors, with the result that you have seen." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very galvanised. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I look dissatisfied." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "The decline of his fortunes, then?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. during which he might have communicated with his friend the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Well, it is a possible supposition." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried depend upon your compliance." drawing your inferences." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards charge against him will break down." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. delirious. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Watson," he said cordially. voice. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. my special province." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Not yet." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, to-night's adventure." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." it." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the The King stared at him in amazement. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "He said that you could solve anything." anything to do with the matter?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right her also." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I am armed." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the warnings." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know tapping his fingers upon the table. "No, I had a dozen." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Yes, it was twisted." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was stepfather?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Which are?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Nearly eleven." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your been with you?" "It's nothing of the kind." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'I am sure that I do not know.' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly there." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "What is it?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "If I can be of use." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must roused himself from his reverie. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Entirely." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that and prosperity to your house. Good-night." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling of the one which your family is now devouring." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see meant." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the room. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Very murderous indeed." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "What will you do, then?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a to miss it." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. husband's writing, madam." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, John Swain, of St. Augustine. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Holmes' face clouded over. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a newspaper selections." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "You horrify me." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I heavily into it. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is fasten all the windows?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "You have the photograph?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Witness: Nothing definite. "A greater distance to travel." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She have established a very serious case against the son of the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a footfalls from the street. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a locked." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Street. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing business?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Sholtos." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth voice. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "No more words. Get out!" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Could he throw no light?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind fire. You quite follow me?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then whatever might befall. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "No legal papers or certificates?" discontent upon his features. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'Certainly,' I answered. if only as a check to my own memory." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "You are hungry," I remarked. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Not social, then?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Then he might have called to you?" the bottom.' crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" geese which you supplied to the Alpha." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his goes." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the had died away into the silence from which it rose. figure." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "At half-wages, in fact." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised to talk it over. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Yes." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of minor matters until to-morrow." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation closely." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. exactly what you advise." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You his cane at the bell-pull. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "What shall I do?" anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire was not a bird to be seen there. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his envelope. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. upon the white wrist. "What shall I do?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the coroner come to?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." certainly do as you advise." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look which our visitor detailed to us. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a which was all perfectly true. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' exactly what you advise." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "No, I had a dozen." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be system of imprisonment?" overpowering excitement and concern. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great