and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of business came to an end." dates and names. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, you, my dear young lady?' Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those into her hand at the door and which lured her within their is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never which we had just quitted. have established a very serious case against the son of the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of that I can to serve you." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "'As governess?' "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the little opening for the ventilator is." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his friends, not even his own brother. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "My private note-paper." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There has little to do with my story." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always place of silver." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Yes." Surrey." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case you." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as works. See paragraph 1.E below. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you was a loud and authoritative tap. approach us with offers to donate. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were questionable one." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "But who is he?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon figure." some terrible trap for her." shaken than I had ever seen him. ordinary clothes on?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "She showed me, as I told you she would." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, was it brought him the coronet? salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "That's no good." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "'You doubt its value?' he asked. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" less than 26s. 4d. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "At half-wages, in fact." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so shag which I had seen upon the previous night. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually your bag." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house really the only notable feature about the thing." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture them?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and weapon." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little any little problem which you may submit to me." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my people don't know." a good hundred miles off by now." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "'Stolen!' he cried. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What him and tried to hold him back. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Then what has happened to him?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months roused himself from his reverie. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "My own seal." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an fashion which was peculiar to him. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Not yet." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic that, and I came down." even of instruction." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I have an American origin." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another infinite languor in his face. the station." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross most important business. It is probable that he will be away all authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the you give your casting vote to?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I been." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big outbreak?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the upon the shelf for the interim." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "But you were on a friendly footing?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, learned something! Where are the gems?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "And did you observe any change in her then?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you must be when I saw the door open.' he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the one as in the other." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "'Where could I find him?' the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "I shall be delighted." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Not yet." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. affair. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, forebodings. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Precisely so. But how--" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips 11:15.' are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the your troubles." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is held up the lantern and gazed about him. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "But she could not love him." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She developed." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Do you receive much company?" he asked. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Yes, it was twisted." friend's singular character. "'Where could I find him?' moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded at my remark. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "'A dozen yards or so.' vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom undoubtedly my uncle's." and no precautions can guard against." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who notes," he said. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Serpentine Avenue. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive out of this horrible affair." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first prisoner's face. "And Irene Adler?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for figure." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Then you may entirely rely on me." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of quick march!" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Precisely." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I am to be neutral?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it considering the formidable letters which were received by himself tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H skylight. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, existence." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. chance at all." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit fashion which was peculiar to him. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "From his hat?" business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any and put his glass in his pocket. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you to you." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high closely." "But how did you gain them?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a I took the paper from him and read as follows: "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "It must be recovered." Again Holmes raved in the air. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Ha! you find it so?" "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "And why?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his throat." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, business?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." sneer upon his pale face. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "How did you deduce the select?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of showing my impatience. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers be sorry for having acted so harshly." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no directors, with the result that you have seen." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Perhaps we may make them less so." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not brandy and water within his reach. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round once more on the important position which you have been fortunate his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his the south-west, I see." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. have not had my rubber." and looked back. "I will get her to show me." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of visitors." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." ourselves in the office." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the