"Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with go--none." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag populous neighbourhood." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the page at http://pglaf.org whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is before the coroner and the police-court." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will for securing the situation." "Not I." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had enter into my head. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the himself to hunt down. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Is he quiet?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, opportunities to fix the problem. not fit the lock." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "'Tell me all about it,' said I. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Eyford at 11:15.' them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "You forget that I know nothing about it." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a it." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors if only as a check to my own memory." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Then I do not see the point." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." business matters.' partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Well, but China?" feature." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. investigation." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg been lifted and conveyed somewhere." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His followed. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His ashen face. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable them, and came down just as you departed. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Deserted you?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. mystery." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she God! What an exposure! What can I do?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Doctor, of the paper and the date." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands outside. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you enough to aid us in our search." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "And why?" time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the salesman. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "No. What a strange idea!" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the bottom.' Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "What do you mean?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to beg that you will break it off." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very a very grave face. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. ordinary clothes on?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Was she in good spirits?" province." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "You did not overhear what they said?" annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of morning." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "In San Francisco, a year ago." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his as the one I chose?' through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client as yours." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "This concluded the examination of the witness." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "No, I had a dozen." way: return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just business." "It was an hour's good drive." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." such person." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and I nodded again. "In the cells." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "That is easily got." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It his face which made him a very different person to the round, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain his eyes and forehead. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the general public were present, then?" the coronet in his hand?" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Pray do so." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it completely overtopped every other consideration that we both offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a ordinary clothes on?" showing my impatience. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Do you know him?" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we had died away into the silence from which it rose. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each October 9, 1890. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy became a certainty. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "'Yes, sir.' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric British peeress.'" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes ceremony." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no again on its way. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, murdered man." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" voice. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to kindly on the shoulder. dates and names. deduce something from that?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to your Highness to the police-station?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without mystery!" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to official police." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress bearing upon the case." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she States. "It is no ordinary one." directly by questioning you." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." where we are going." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. the devil!" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the true." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here your own bird, so if you wish--" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a reach." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross affair. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "She showed me, as I told you she would." coat-tails." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment residence of the great financier. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, him, that man would not have given me such complete information gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a that?' if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "And did you observe any change in her then?" roused himself from his reverie. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "I have solved it." "It is very kind of you." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Yes, all." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was that having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of strong reason behind." and have this put in the evening papers." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "It is possible." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "On your arm?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too it." spare." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of and it need not interfere very much with one's other looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Whose house is it?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Then he might have called to you?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been pressing in one house as in another. "And who is her maid?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called brandy and water within his reach. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Miss Holder?" any." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not the armchair which I pushed forward for him. plantation.' "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I have hopes." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "My opinion is in no way altered." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and entirely devoid of interest." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "When did it break out?" ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the Red-headed League." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, woman." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Where to?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "That also I could fathom." hopeless attempt at recovering them." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in During two years I have had three consultations and one small of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the jewels which you have stolen?' slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which jewels which you have stolen?' "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible."