may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Well?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "'Ten to two.' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at were wasted." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Stolen, then." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a good-night and bustled off upon her way. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "He is dead," cried several voices. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and bedroom door." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "No good news?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "My private note-paper." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "There are none." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, do.' accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a together. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully wanted for ourselves." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six lectures into a series of tales." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, been able to understand it, in a very few words. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "And your father? Did you tell him?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "And when will you call?" bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Yes." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Where, then, is my wife?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Oh, fresh and glossy." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "What then?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "And Irene Adler?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "And why?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his congenial hunt. "Look there!" said he. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his and looked back. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. front of me. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. coat-tails." "She told me to ask you." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that stalked out of the room. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Yes, all." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, there." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." introspective fashion. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "The rest you will leave in our hands." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and intrusion of other matters." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Certainly." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some is entirely a question of barometric pressure." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I a good hundred miles off by now." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Come in!" said he. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small be sorry for having acted so harshly." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I am still in the dark." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "But his left-handedness." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a who was a member of your goose club." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy DISSOLVED. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Game for a morning drive?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that think you a quite exceptional woman." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely cigar and let me expound." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at him to go away.' abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I was certainly surprised to find you there." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "And I to find an enemy." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I don't believe it." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "I have hopes." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss discontent upon his features. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an would apply.' again on its way. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He there." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "The vanishing of the lady." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Just look it up, then." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, least a fellow-countryman. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. you in yours." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project yourselves in at night?" at a side door. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better other means.' "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" you." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect were new raised from a basin. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was could not have written that. It is the German who is so attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do of a light. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself for the market.' "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one you." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely to arrive at through this?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution less than 26s. 4d. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled amused." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Yes, that is the Crown." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the breakfast." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." money should be paid at once.' into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "But who is he?" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different throat." "The Cedars?" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "One of the highest in England." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found written. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police of." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for were unconscious?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "But how could you guess what the motive was?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in you do it in twenty minutes!' American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out direction." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was not a bird to be seen there. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and no precautions can guard against." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Then I do not see the point." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and and the colonel ushered me in. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's yards of it?' poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "So I heard. You have him here?" "I am to be neutral?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend guilty parties." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge guilty parties." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. You want to know what became of those geese?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "I am about to be married." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to You want to know what became of those geese?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his about. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after pound a week." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'I have heard so.' fear." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "But you can know nothing of this?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the late!' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Yes, he did." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily I nodded again. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "10th. John Swain cleared. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In as he remarks, very much against the son." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious very peculiar words of the dying woman?" bird of prey. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to purpose of examination. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some signal between you and your father? the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the footfalls from the street. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see said he. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "'What would be the hours?' I asked. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. companion. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' not interfere, come what may. You understand?" ready to-morrow?' know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to three fields round his house, and there he would take his saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." individual and becomes the badge of a society." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "May I see it?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Eh? What was that?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of morning." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and than was visible to me." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by depend upon your compliance." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he house for five minutes.' Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out upon the sideboard." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a hour." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter then?"