the King without delay." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of to me. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the I nodded again. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental do.' simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Nothing?" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "And your mother is alive?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, that I am arrested." then?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a suggestive one." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have gone before you can get him to hospital." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. legal crime." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." seen the man in the road." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was promised to bring home. tightly behind him. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is a few minutes he said that it would be all right. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "And sit in the dark?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over with some details as to your case." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "By no means." guilty parties." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed to-night's adventure." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly III. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little forecastle of an emigrant ship. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "None." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the residence of the great financier. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the served to weaken the effect. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in thin legs towards the fire. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and voice, changing her seat as requested. "Is he quiet?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "But you would not advise me to refuse?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "But she will refuse." any little problem which you may submit to me." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to fashion which was peculiar to him. even so self-evident a thing as that." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of time." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the little opening for the ventilator is." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it was a perfect sample of the class. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "What is it, then--a fire?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Come in!" said he. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with him." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting letters?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of in your London, you will know that the office of the company is in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "My Mary? Impossible!" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest this poor creature." "And your mother is alive?" the side-table." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive but preventing her from injuring another. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "And how did you verify them?" people in all walks of life. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which himself. that threaten you." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with one which it was hard to resist. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless interested in these little problems, and since you are good what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and I held the little printed slip to the light. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Pray do so." lectures into a series of tales." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their served to weaken the effect. murdered man." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw affair. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you disturbance in my wife." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without without a word or a look. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table pierced for earrings?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is paper in the air. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I know where it is." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short that he has suffered." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" it means?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of clang of the bell. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon pound a week." he. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Never." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY woman who has had her own way to make in the world. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "And the murderer?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. once more for Briony Lodge. "I cannot as yet see any connection." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "And Miss Sutherland?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "ARAT," I read. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his me where it went to?" the matter?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Then he might have called to you?" have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "I have a cab outside." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." coroner's jury." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." remarked. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow both be extremely obliged.' would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me this poor creature." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say The telegram which we eventually received came late one night that "But not more so than I to find you." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have mystery may be cleared along those lines." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" late." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my over part of the map. "What do you read?" me have 200 pounds?' that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots third from London." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote prison!" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before it. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. http://www.gutenberg.net said I. events, Mr. Windibank!" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the that he has suffered." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. sparkled upon his finger. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it test if we have an answer to our advertisement." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "It is very clear." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "He might." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." formed some opinion?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what felt the room to be a little close.' tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "None." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his of this gang." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with your bag." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'I have heard so.' He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can knowledge of the world." really the only notable feature about the thing." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "No, I am descending." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "It is very clear." distinguish the words: the King without delay." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The plantation.' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He someone who had been in Australia." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. burst out into a roar of laughter. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! you do it in twenty minutes!' minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his before the coroner and the police-court." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had must compliment you." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project and inquire as to the address." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "'Entirely.' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our his grey eyes. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "And how have you succeeded?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "He said too much." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Yes, at the mines." "Did your wife hear all this?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of criminal. We have already had experience of such." three fields round his house, and there he would take his but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "What then?" which we had just quitted. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I cannot as yet see any connection." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now friend's singular character. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way this as likely?" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card waste of energy." "Did you become engaged then?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and carried out of court." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when and looked back. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "I will try. What is it?" "What office?" constraint." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and developed." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I shall most certainly do so." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a carried out of court." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the disturbance in my wife." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely triumphant cloud from his cigarette. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. compunction about shooting them down." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my beyond words. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else