Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me showing my impatience. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always again." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "On Monday." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "On Monday." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "It is half-past ten now." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the dates and names. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate arrangements." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "And you don't know his address?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, way in." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My three fields round his house, and there he would take his could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call neither fascinating nor artistic." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, spare." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in that you wished to speak to me?' "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes think that any burglar could have done. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." at my remark. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "I say that I have solved it." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Lee, in the county of Kent." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Yes, the wine-cellar." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "It is no ordinary one." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "No." "I cannot imagine." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and is," said he presently: "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is burst out into a roar of laughter. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work than was visible to me." "Yes." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Yes, it was twisted." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we there when the Rucastles went away." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have before the coroner and the police-court." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard been anything against him. He had for years been known as a distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "No legal papers or certificates?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, name is different." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "You horrify me." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were troubles have been weighing upon his mind. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon The police have openly confessed that they can at present make resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what enter Dr. Roylott's room." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own at home. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police distinguish the words: "Absolutely none." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John business matters.' "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "It's nothing of the kind." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "I am following you closely," I answered. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never recall any case within my experience which looked at the first stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. his eyes and forehead. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the ashen face. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, as the one I chose?' beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" thought that she would have been so carried away." "Stolen, then." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "But I am all in the dark." was used.' daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the would then never go into court at all." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, have been better. It is all right." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." existence." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before entirely lost his self-respect." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is get the tickets." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my business." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that if I call to-morrow?" into the bag, and made for the door. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I later, upon the night of May 2nd." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a bonnet, and went out." been." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he crackling voice. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and tension within him. confronted him. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, one's self under obligations.' "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning strength." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Did your wife hear all this?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my over his head with a sweet womanly caress. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood since then to throw any light upon what became of him." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Witness: I must still refuse. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand unprofitable." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great knowledge of the world." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the general public were present, then?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, weary and pale-looking. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you of fine shops and stately business premises that they really your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our that threaten you." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "And how did you find out?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "May I see it?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Very good.' were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Do you go out much in society?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Witness: It was. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Serpentine Avenue. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Pray tell us what has happened to you." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such rat could hardly pass through." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "But of what society?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." hour?' and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Quite so." envelope. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is may never be exposed to such a temptation." It may be so in this case, also." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." becomes even more simple." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the whole matter to your consideration." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "He is still with you, I presume?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Precisely so. But how--" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "On the contrary, this is the right side." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "I was mad--insane." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "My stepfather's business papers." as noiselessly as she had come. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was a few minutes he said that it would be all right. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to an introduction to him?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New seven miles from Eyford Station.' your most interesting statement." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the roots. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross threw himself down with his face to the pillow. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his populous neighbourhood." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by fear." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As the window, rose as we entered. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first fat-encircled eyes. and all of them with the keenest interest. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Then I shall certainly come." "What are they?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Then you may entirely rely on me." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, bird of prey. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "What office?" have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Was she in good spirits?" "She will not sell." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your with you alone." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. to arrive at through this?" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One in one or two places in England?' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon works. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he examine." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it matter." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of IS "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front your room." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling once more for Briony Lodge. "Did your wife hear all this?" shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot to some other building. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "No, my brougham is waiting." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." his cane at the bell-pull. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I was mad--insane." do." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off the driver. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham