combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "At half-wages, in fact." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Come in!" said Holmes. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. your only hope of safety." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "'Very good.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "And how have you succeeded?" vanished into the darkness. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "You are certainly joking, Holmes." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "'Where could I find him?' to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "My own seal." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was crime. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had together. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old tassel actually lying upon the pillow. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt any more." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael man. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or cigars in the box." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, colour had been driven from his face. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my you, my dear young lady?' which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Here?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "What have you to say now?" detective. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a suggestive one." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Cross for the Continent." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can at a side door. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Dirty?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It extraordinary contortions. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Nothing?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the morning." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "So I am. Very much so." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting over here." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert to talk it over. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would there has been an enclosure here!" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish one of the states of the Union." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so happened." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I attention." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Yes." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring it." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Oh, yes, easily." question. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was occurred." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade strength." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. more terrible than the truth. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered carried out of court." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "He said too much." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the nursery. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the bed, and you in that chair." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "No." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Precisely." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "No legal papers or certificates?" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Sutherland. results." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not I have it here in my museum." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere vague figure huddled up in the darkness. the station." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did way in." "That is unusual in a young girl." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss round and wave him away like that.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a grasp, he hurried from the room. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Stoke Moran?" said he. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was security.' "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "What! You do not mean bodies?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "What can you not understand?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "But how did you gain them?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Of what?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Then I can wait in the next room." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the me. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "No, distinctly professional." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your imbecility!" he cried. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he following enigmatical notices: five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "I am following you closely," I answered. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them in the hope of finding them." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the inner apartment." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical bachelor.' "Just look it up, then." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with criminal. We have already had experience of such." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. just called myself is not exactly my own." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me side. which we had just quitted. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or points in connection with it which never have been, and probably garden below. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a your sleep?' moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "By train from Waterloo." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress down. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case very morning of my second wedding." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been to-morrow." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "One of the highest in England." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the stable lane now." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy tell them apart.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the your most interesting statement." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read to that open window." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "'Most admirably.' her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and there has been an enclosure here!" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Oh, yes, easily." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 secret." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end you do it in twenty minutes!' "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will directly by questioning you." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Foundation entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." for the market.' whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I am to be neutral?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." even so self-evident a thing as that." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "In San Francisco, a year ago." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Farm upon the left." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the The events in question occurred in the early days of my "'Not at all. I only doubt--' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the despair." I nodded to show that I had heard. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal be. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite British peeress.'" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I directly by questioning you." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Yes." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" with her." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "It is solved." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The wanted for ourselves." out of this horrible affair." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The again, where I was soon asleep. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a three fields round his house, and there he would take his "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the roots. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own for its centre. "No." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no more terrible than the truth. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, several quiet little villages up there." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Yes." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "What shall I do?" pierced for earrings?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Not particularly." may never be exposed to such a temptation." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the warnings." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce brain must have something in it." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His License. You must require such a user to return or face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Holmes. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'Is purely nominal.' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I cannot imagine." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "It is possible." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every of the vacancies.' from the brougham. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to bedroom door." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot some place of shelter and let the county police know what has himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. humiliation." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.'