greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the room while you explain this matter?" fashion which was peculiar to him. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the ways of our fellow-men." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a case before our client came into the room." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "I think it very unlikely." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who learned something! Where are the gems?" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who copied or distributed: Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round row." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a became a certainty. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Then I am your man." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "What! Had he lost his wife?" into the room. light and attacked it." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Of what?" "Yes." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Where does the thing come from?' "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Ten will be early enough." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Deserted you?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining have an American origin." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "None." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and about. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'Very good.' with her." opened the door, and slipped through. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of conduct the inquiry." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a what these perils are?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from there has been an enclosure here!" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I business in the City. She little knew what. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "How can you tell that?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after advice." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is knowledge of the world." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "That is easily got." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside tassel actually lying upon the pillow. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I beg pardon." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you in. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" used to be." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the Red-headed League." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Ha! you find it so?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. it." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right a monotonous occupation." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all disappearance of the bride.'" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, chair. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Yes, but only for you and me." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "So I have heard." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in four million human beings all jostling each other within the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Yes, the wine-cellar." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "No, I am descending." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "What!" he roared. said I. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any what these perils are?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** of the one which your family is now devouring." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then a very grave face. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in on re-entering her father's house?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'Entirely.' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to go--none." License. You must require such a user to return or "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is question. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Here?" "Certainly." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "That is unusual in a young girl." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no light and attacked it." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, gone before you can get him to hospital." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Yes, sir." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Witness: I must still refuse. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Very much so." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "That you are never beaten." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, peculiar to him. have not had my rubber." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "He is dead," cried several voices. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "I was certainly surprised to find you there." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. my former friend and companion. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited taking in every detail of the apartment. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "On the contrary, this is the right side." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I assure you that I am in your hands." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a least a fellow-countryman. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "We must have a cab." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into James Windibank. Voilà tout!" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. are windows in it, of course?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but simple cases which are so extremely difficult." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "'Never,' said I. "'A dozen yards or so.' "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me something of him before." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you society." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls your equipment. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich be.' Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can to have that photograph." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so bearing upon the case." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" compunction about shooting them down." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let sofa. This way, please!" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. disappearance of the bride.'" free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "The knees of his trousers." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "An accident, I presume?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like anything to a woman, for she would have her way." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a get the tickets." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "And how did you find out?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see threw himself down with his face to the pillow. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads quite distinctive." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the have an American origin." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Was she in good spirits?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the coronet at all injured?" charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my once more on the important position which you have been fortunate untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew felt the room to be a little close.' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Did he not advertise?" some terrible trap for her." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of confronted him. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. attention." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a gone before you can get him to hospital." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Certainly." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it the very letters. But what is this written above them?' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "In the cells." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he leaning back in his chair. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Then I shall certainly come." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when never to learn it at all." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their she to prove their authenticity?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last him nearly every evening." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I hand, madam?" wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Will you bet, then?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Pray continue your narrative." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, province." "They are typewritten," I remarked. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "But how?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Then, how do you know?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. and a shock of very red hair. "Entirely." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. is four-and-twenty." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to