successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland chemical work which was so dear to him. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I outside." of Mr. Rucastle's." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Then the page we have seen--" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed think you a quite exceptional woman." with her." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'You cannot say what it was?' note?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay go back?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a pictures, libraries, or plate. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I electronic works his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is do." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the pound a week." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "An enemy?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, other lovers by making love himself." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly of Mr. Rucastle's." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really answered with a sidelong glance. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Very truly yours, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Stolen." "I have come for advice." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is there were so many in the whole country as were brought together rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've would then never go into court at all." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." awkward doing business with an alias." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "But of what society?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here make me his representative both with the servants and with the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed tied." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat crackling voice. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and pity, because in other respects you would really have done very main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "My stepfather's business papers." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "No, I think that I'll take it." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "How do you know, then?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. one which it was hard to resist. of your young ladies.' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "I will try. What is it?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom of a light. "But what harm can there be in that?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding main points of my analysis." clanging. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which better grown goose." "And I say east," said my patient. "At the wedding breakfast." "Dr. Becher's." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had cost them two and thirty pounds." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported train.' liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of any more." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now papers diligently of late, have you not?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." newspaper selections." for securing the situation." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the coat-tails." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "VIOLET HUNTER." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "This concluded the examination of the witness." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, footfalls from the street. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I article?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Not particularly." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I cannot tell." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which The summons was a brief and urgent one. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "No, distinctly professional." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my with frightened eyes at his accuser. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. enter into my head. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, tension within him. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, crackling voice. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, pressing in one house as in another. very old mansion. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish window when the police appeared." here." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see been deceived." giving me time to thank him. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Yes." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "You have carte blanche." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "But the mystery?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and you." points to suicide?" "Pray do so." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance what I may call a really hard day's work." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this the general public were present, then?" "I say it is." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in lamp in his hand. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself thought that she would have been so carried away." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I will take you up to see the machine.' sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of photograph a cabinet?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such which was all perfectly true. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Game for a morning drive?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if his cane at the bell-pull. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "And how did you find out?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'Yes, sir.' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the stable lane now." the matter." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in that I am arrested." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked my special province." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the room while you explain this matter?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! been." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Nothing?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle fatally injured? and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted and all of them with the keenest interest. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. strength of mind to control. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "It was an hour's good drive." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I cannot imagine." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to murdered man." have got?" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried him, that man would not have given me such complete information "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'Stolen!' he cried. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER envelope. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and mysterious end." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in never came back." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner excitement. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back it." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "You were travelling in the States?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Yes." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help through." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am me what he had done with the three missing stones. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains companion. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, morning." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes The note was undated, and without either signature or address. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Deserted you?" question," said Holmes, smiling. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Very well, sir. And this stone?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was three of the beryls in it, was missing. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her was used.' very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "I am all attention, madam." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, your sleep?' "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "No, thank goodness, she did not." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a her also." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look