the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "And how have you succeeded?" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Never." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, have accepted such a situation. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "An accident, I presume?" platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave official police." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Game for a morning drive?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you with frightened eyes at his accuser. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his had a long day." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the problems help me to do so." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Dr. Becher's." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "And why in hopes?" exactly what you advise." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and The events in question occurred in the early days of my "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to third from London." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "I was certainly surprised to find you there." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent John Swain, of St. Augustine. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to whether it answered to the description of any of their "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed these bleak autumnal evenings." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I will, Miss Turner." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and events than those which have happened in my own family." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in 1.F. "She will not sell." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Yes." "That is not always so easy." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no drawing your inferences." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "'And what are they worth?' I asked. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted III. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Oh, the cause is excellent!" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Never." "I will do it." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of he. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We face and glided from the room. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he fact, we may call it conclusive." awaited us upon the table. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it read it out to me." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "I don't believe it." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a call you and give you the chance." not, dad?" she asked. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "And that is--" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of as this. Pray let me have the details." "Deserted you?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my his forehead." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had a room. new acquaintance to Baker Street. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the window, rose as we entered. know that the truth is known." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a ill-usage at the hands of fortune. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, to Leatherhead. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." this unhappy family?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of acted in my house last night?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "He is dead," cried several voices. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as sneer upon his pale face. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of this as likely?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "You did not overhear what they said?" served to weaken the effect. "Pray do so." "Will you go?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was already been minutely examined." outside. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "I cannot as yet see any connection." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a sneer upon his pale face. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually giving me time to thank him. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out strength in the others." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a which was all perfectly true. "About a month then." carriage. It was a chestnut." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have simple cases which are so extremely difficult." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." questioning and rather startled gaze. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "I cannot tell." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is strength of mind to control. I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Does that suggest anything?" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Ah!" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the night.' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "What can you not understand?" waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across carpenter." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. any more." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" sufficient punishment." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, bled considerably." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Come in!" said he. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my in him." "How did you trace it, then?" emerged. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his of the one which your family is now devouring." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will business matters.' secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Perhaps I have." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "But she could not love him." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old to-morrow." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark hand, madam?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Frequently." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, even of instruction." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the official police." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, yet." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Why, it's a dummy," said he. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to once more to my work. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "You were travelling in the States?" redistribution. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear next day. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the little opening for the ventilator is." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. point in the dark hollow of his hand. imbecility!" he cried. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's I shall communicate with you." look upon these things in a different way." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap existence." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his think you a quite exceptional woman." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Yes." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable village inn over there?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Yes." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Chief Executive and Director question. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; prepare for the new role I have to play." "I have hopes." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. sneer upon his pale face. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about are, I think, all that we need." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. him to go away.' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "I would give my fortune to have them back." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you