had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." know what is wrong with it.' "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the Holmes' face clouded over. "Ah!" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a unclasping of his long thin hands. crackling voice. emerged. "What can you not understand?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Where did you address your letters, then?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am man. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, to a more successful conclusion." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man said he. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate to his chemical studies. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent been able to understand it, in a very few words. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "That is possible." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'Where to?' of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Where to?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all is entirely a question of barometric pressure." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us would then never go into court at all." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Perhaps we may make them less so." place no limit on the sum I may draw." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Ten will be early enough." developed." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of friend's singular character. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a point our research must commence, and we will begin it by presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" papers." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always bell. Holmes whistled. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Bought." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." third from London." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely page at http://pglaf.org bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "What! a murderous attack?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded http://gutenberg.net/license). judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin the child." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. such person." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Will you go?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his call you and give you the chance." "And your father? Did you tell him?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "A client, then?" forbidden door. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant started for the Temple to see my husband. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the back into the street. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at have not had my rubber." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Countess of Morcar's?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than shoulder. "What is it?" "But his lameness?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Of what day?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. his forehead." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs weigh very heavily upon my conscience." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself possible that we could bring him back to her? prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "And it is--" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "In which, sir?" conclusions. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Entirely." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for remarked. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and was a perfect sample of the class. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they secret." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" I have it here in my museum." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "That is possible." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for him to go away.' LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Holmes rather sternly. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Yes." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "The landlord of the Alpha." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "'What, the red-headed man?' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the absorbing." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Ha! you find it so?" putting in the horse. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will have had none more fantastic than this." not come at once?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay copied or distributed: "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'Which dealer's?' him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face clang of the bell. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main in a friendly supper." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and of your young ladies.' harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her reach." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was himself in a perplexing position. It may be so in this case, also." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I the bottom.' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "In heaven's name, what for?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Heh?' London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Nothing." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "But you were on a friendly footing?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "It is to him that this trophy belongs." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Your sister is dead, then?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean annoyance, but no jest. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "I have solved it." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been least a fellow-countryman. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the him!" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "We have tried and failed." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Where to?" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring one or two very singular points about this room. For example, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips certainly do as you advise." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "I have a cab outside." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and nonsense.' Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at conclusions. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. was a lad." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time drove away. a little more before I quite committed myself. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would I nodded again. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Only as much as we can deduce." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It a room. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the spare." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had be there in time for your coming." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a little adventures." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I have come for advice." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already residence of the great financier. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I fear not." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in man. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an then?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie morning." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, before the coroner and the police-court." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in lost his Christmas dinner." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away client, rising. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Two days later this same performance was gone through under like gravel from a pit.' contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper father's place of business?" weary and pale-looking. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of a light. writers could invent nothing more crude." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "So I am. Very much so." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, himself to tell his story. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can that he will be back before evening." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not that I am arrested." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the photograph a cabinet?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "It is a murder, then?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Eyford." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us which it had come upon my father." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Street. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the disturbance in my wife." this remarkable episode. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid occurred." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of this remarkable episode. third from London." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "'Where to?' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." wedding?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my with the outside air!" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the closing the door. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter might help us?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "No?" footfalls from the street. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit hard-headed British jury." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been rat could hardly pass through." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, noble correspondent could be. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five himself in a perplexing position. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the What do you deduce from it?" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up do.' was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I shall most certainly do so." burst out into a roar of laughter. way in everything. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement