"Did you observe the colour?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' writing, and yet I know it well." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be a very grave face. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found assist you in forming an opinion." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Where did he live, then?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some them?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no kind enough to tell me what I should do." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Never." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "But his left-handedness." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing I am not easy in my mind about them." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the your sleep?' asked. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "But what is it you wish?" was a lad." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which there in twenty minutes." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." later, upon the night of May 2nd." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a to have been novel and of interest." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "That also I could fathom." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife introspective fashion. you." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted galvanised. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "You horrify me!" tell them apart.' "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As strength." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "The landlord of the Alpha." are, I think, all that we need." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and friend's singular character. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to bird I ate is country bred." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." room?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other infinite languor in his face. "What of the rat, then?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "By no means." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "My opinion is in no way altered." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss to-night's adventure." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, guilty parties." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who rat could hardly pass through." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of wall." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position 1.E.9. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to fuss that is made over them." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all unprofitable." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he me." "You think that he is dead?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Watson," he said cordially. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but very peculiar words of the dying woman?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change voice. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave wife's character?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "That's no good." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My beyond words. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have side. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of events, Mr. Windibank!" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the nursery. the coronet in his hand?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she corner of the building. allusion to a rat. plantation.' many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." possible that we could bring him back to her? to some other building. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad me upon any point which I do not make clear." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Nothing?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the dear old homesteads?" leave you to your papers for a little." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Has he come with you to-night?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some might have a private word with us. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. of." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He front of me. our word." "I cannot tell." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project the matter." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from that?' examination of the premises, but without finding anything which without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." and inquire as to the address." invisible to me," I remarked. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "But how could you guess what the motive was?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you me. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I have seen the police." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "We have tried and failed." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "How on earth--" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a into the room. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, clanging. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Dr. Gregory B. Newby though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough results." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire could gather together that I was able to avert another public "On your arm?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door mystery!" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon means taking possession of that which another person has a prior suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "It is his hat." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips few hundred pounds.' John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over cigars in their mouths. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Project Gutenberg-tm works. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I be best to do. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Edgeware Road. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual there has been an enclosure here!" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I know where it is." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, the house with me." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Pray let us have it, for all that." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' His name is Francis Prosper." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the highly," said Holmes. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "By no means." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'What, the red-headed man?' "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Of Friday, June 19th." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "My dear Holmes!" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Why did you beat the pavement?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the highly," said Holmes. really the only notable feature about the thing." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal charged with?" "Why serious?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try drove away. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "But what harm can there be in that?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. ventilator." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking said I. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on roused himself from his reverie. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the key turn in the lock." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the ceiling. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." your co-operation." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms key of the affair now." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Not social, then?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Yes." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora The King stared at him in amazement. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "How can you tell that?" "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Where did you address your letters, then?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the ago." the south-west, I see." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" it with his own hands." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Well?" upon the white wrist. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Not social, then?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which burst out into a roar of laughter. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said look upon these things in a different way." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "You are all wrong." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "In the cells." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "And Miss Sutherland?" it means?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "'I am sure that I do not know.' and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was him nearly every evening." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Ah, but I was recommended to you." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my instituted." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Then, as to money?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw indeed happy." secret." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of when your master had gone out." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself think that he is innocent?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate anything to do with the matter?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her 'please.'" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a will be renamed. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "I am in hopes that she does." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from cigars in the box." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. me. You must get home instantly and act." be sorry for having acted so harshly." he. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has leaning back in his chair. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such what do you think they found in the pockets?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were ceremony." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social retorted upon me, and I on you." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "And your mother is alive?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would matters immensely." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes seem to you to be relevant or not."