II. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "It came here." the general public were present, then?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "No. What a strange idea!" Clair, of Lee." words came to my lips. gigantic client. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the to miss it." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled from the brougham. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an in his hands." becomes even more simple." bonnet, and went out." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "That is possible." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources the house with me." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "It is possible." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her with some details as to your case." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Holmes." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in definite end. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she what do you think they found in the pockets?" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'Certainly,' I answered. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned shoulder. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, leaning back in his chair. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." my special province." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. narrative." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay during which he might have communicated with his friend the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are not fit the lock." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" possible that we could bring him back to her? have got?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I should like to see him very much." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones meant." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of something of him before." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "At what time?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the asked. have established a very serious case against the son of the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "I say that I have solved it." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me means taking possession of that which another person has a prior tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little good for you to do.' particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian lost nothing by them." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking bedroom door." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, straightened it out again. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one chamber." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and the whole place is in a blaze." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who out of this horrible affair." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "What have you to say now?" in this way: knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his dead, shall be safe with us." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his father's young wife. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "'Very good.' at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. astonishment. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that for its centre. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine answer." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "You have a clue?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "One?" "The King of Scandinavia." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the invisible to me," I remarked. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Well." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, the inner apartment." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Oh, fresh and glossy." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'Where to?' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Do you go out much in society?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Holmes' face clouded over. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer gbnewby@pglaf.org do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Serpentine Avenue. present." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the will be renamed. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE front of me. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Perfectly so." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire were wasted." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Tired-looking or fresh?" child?' conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her said Mr. Holder. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the of it with the greatest attention. morning." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, sake, don't!" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "I answered that I had not. bled considerably." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your as yours." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from not come at once?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not respectable self." strong reason behind." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point man. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Only as much as we can deduce." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may locked." "A call for help, you thought?" how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture in the dead of the night?' manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my himself to tell his story. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope do you make of it all?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that sofa. This way, please!" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Certainly." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "'Yes, sir.' "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my himself in a perplexing position. "I beg pardon." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room at my remark. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Where did you address your letters, then?" train.' and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. as he folded up the epistle. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had shag which I had seen upon the previous night. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Pray do so." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, gone. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and and inquire as to the address." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "If I can be of use." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Yes, from Horsham." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured anything to do with the matter?" "And why?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. in my life." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." address. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I am all attention, madam." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name hardly wander." writer." "You think that he is dead?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, mysterious end." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I will do it." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. served to weaken the effect. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding yet." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" the loss of it. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. putting in the horse. "We were both in the photograph." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. My friend smiled. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Oh, fresh and glossy." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "One of the highest in England." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. any more." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence you give your casting vote to?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "It is possible." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Her father is very rich?" your troubles." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the McCarthy." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the that you can jump it.' mysterious end." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." that you can jump it.' "Never." cause to be." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Pray do so." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is off." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have there when the Rucastles went away." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad views." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have the south-west, I see." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong