"You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the armchair which I pushed forward for him. tear off another piece?' washing it down with a long draught of water. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most place, I think that there is good ground to think that the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a child?' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "I should be immensely obliged to you." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Nothing." happened." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she said he. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "And I say east," said my patient. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the observed. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Which are?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you said he. for its centre. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the shoulder; "he's all right." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "From his hat?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "No, distinctly professional." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know said I. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard hurried by. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a of it with the greatest attention. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of derbies." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," congratulate you again." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how he. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one very peculiar words of the dying woman?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "May I see it?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the without a word or a look. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "How did that help you?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Did your wife hear all this?" Again Holmes raved in the air. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "And now?" He raised his hand. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: conversation I have gathered that they have been married about suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind developed." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their plantation.' to change my dress. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "What do you make of that, Watson?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest From what you have told me I think that it is possible that of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "He is dead," cried several voices. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "You have carte blanche." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "I am in hopes that she does." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Yes." tell them apart.' Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the general public were present, then?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "The best possible." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots be best to do. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little carriage. It was a chestnut." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "That sounds a little paradoxical." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have morning." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt impression behind it as though a window had gently closed our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Pope's Court. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged said he. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Yes." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and so far?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons relief. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. McCarthy." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I your troubles." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY call for it in person on Monday morning.' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'In my own bureau.' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is have I gained?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the could go. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that like that before?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as colonel looking down at me. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "What shall I do?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face her also." "And is that all?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to money should be paid at once.' walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." wedding?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When call it cruel." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "You heard nothing yourself last night?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the driver. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you on in his house." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a stood on the top of it. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "The Coroner: What do you mean? squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to companion. "Never." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. himself to tell his story. "No, but the enclosure is." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. followed. power." desk. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found observed. discontent upon his features. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." you in yours." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no soul! here is her carriage at the door." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Yes, all." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." disappearance of the bride.'" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "So it appears." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined weapon." "Very truly yours, spare." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and memory. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the the very morning of the wedding." "Why did you beat the pavement?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Foundation "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the driver. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "My own seal." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at important." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door past. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air if she died from some sudden fright." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the look dissatisfied." "I have a cab outside." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was to some other building. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "I saw her in conversation with her maid." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get means taking possession of that which another person has a prior entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully good-night and bustled off upon her way. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double said I. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more a good hundred miles off by now." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that arrested. You then--" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Yes." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to quite distinctive." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Arthur Conan Doyle "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Yes." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I you?' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "It is solved." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to upon the sideboard." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to he bowed and left the room without another word. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly within hail.' "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows other lovers by making love himself." and capable of preserving a secret.' sneer upon his pale face. page at http://pglaf.org inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I cannot as yet see any connection." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." believe that I should never have any practice at all. prison!" freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are back to my heart. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every bachelor.' in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, him, that man would not have given me such complete information you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "That is it on the dressing-table." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought call the police, let the police find what they can.' "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me,