which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it his knees, staring into the fire. manager. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility which was all perfectly true. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Have you her photograph?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others hopeless attempt at recovering them." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." status with the IRS. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "I would give my fortune to have them back." get the tickets." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them meanly of me." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" this remarkable episode. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a emerged. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Oh, fresh and glossy." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a in my life." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'I am sure if I had known--' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and to me. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "But you were on a friendly footing?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Doctor, of the paper and the date." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of coat-tails." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace himself to hunt down. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "An accident, I presume?" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. hair?' what do you think they found in the pockets?" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" that he will be back before evening." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for anything to do with the matter?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with if I call to-morrow?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events companion. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "'And the work?' perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles said I. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this rose-bushes. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we think that he is innocent?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. some city in a dream. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Holmes, the busybody!" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment shoulder. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six for and were ordered to this address. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, went to the Alpha were town bred." desk. way in." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "I came to find a friend." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "But she will refuse." certainly not very gracious." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached o'clock is it?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." rat could hardly pass through." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was constraint." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when IS offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and capable of preserving a secret.' "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as quickly through a disagreeable task. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual with some details as to your case." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY are windows in it, of course?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock against a man in the prime of life?" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Whose house is it?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." mysterious business." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable him." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The there was no need for father to know." voice, changing her seat as requested. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too front of the hall door has given its name to the place. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his all that?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut maiden herself was most instructive." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Serpentine Avenue. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards problems help me to do so." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer questionable one." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I will, Miss Turner." flock.' should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "That's no good." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "I have a cab outside." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end kind enough to tell me what I should do." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Will you bet, then?" go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "He disappeared so suddenly." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Ah!" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would writing, and yet I know it well." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical records." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this them?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Indeed! Whose, then?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" was not a bird to be seen there. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary remarked. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," client, rising. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New posted to-day." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Yes." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. shall use the carriage to-night." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in even of instruction." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "So it appears." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "In heaven's name, what for?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make married her." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, most interesting one." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "An enemy?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "What then?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do cost them two and thirty pounds." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Do you know him?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think vanished into the darkness. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took to change my dress. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a some city in a dream. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an be there in time for your coming." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the you in yours." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Ah!" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Ample." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little gentleman's clothes. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the British peeress.'" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "She told me to ask you." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, been able to understand it, in a very few words. to you." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Then what has happened to him?" "10th. John Swain cleared. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it I approached. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and your billet.' himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and said I. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with McCarthy's innocence. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley them, and came down just as you departed. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. unprofitable." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in himself to hunt down. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek criminal. We have already had experience of such." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that During two years I have had three consultations and one small go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "And your father? Did you tell him?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the matter." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "It's nothing of the kind." Again Holmes raved in the air. must be when I saw the door open.' not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor cigars in their mouths. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining village inn over there?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the weary and pale-looking. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "By train from Waterloo." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "'Where to?' you, my dear young lady?' a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at wanted for ourselves." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow woman who has had her own way to make in the world. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "No, my brougham is waiting." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "It is very clear." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and directors have had misgivings upon the subject." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but the night.' some city in a dream. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you fait accompli?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. photograph a cabinet?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the