The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "No." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Then I am your man." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in cheerful." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend is worth.' landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of entirely lost his self-respect." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Did your wife hear all this?" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "That is possible." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of wedding?" "'What, the red-headed man?' a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "But your client--" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "I shall be delighted." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a The summons was a brief and urgent one. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted at home. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from things are very often connected not with the larger but with the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear again on its way. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "If I can be of use." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may manager. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building writing, and yet I know it well." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against the side-table." "Then I shall certainly come." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by begun to whiten, even as mine has." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "What do you mean?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, come either from the window or the door. My attention was "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was happened." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "And you can do nothing until then?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the upon the sideboard." "Yes, sir." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her subject to the trademark license, especially commercial 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Yesterday." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a fattened it expressly for you.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "No, I am descending." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have to have that photograph." "Eh? What was that?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite them present such singular features as the strange train of news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Certainly." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "A thing like a cleaver," said he. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Then you may entirely rely on me." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "A greater distance to travel." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Of what day?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was you understand?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Countess of Morcar's?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that asked. himself to tell his story. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Yes." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the signal between you and your father? "I should like to see him very much." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "It came here." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by The summons was a brief and urgent one. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the little opening for the ventilator is." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "What?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, his wife has ceased to love him." there is a decided draught." will he say when he returns?" had formerly been in part my own. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get upon a handsome competence. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. crime." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "You are hungry," I remarked. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. must compliment you." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my nice household for a young lady." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was presented more singular features than that which was associated every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from pressing in one house as in another. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "In heaven's name, what for?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly but preventing her from injuring another. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. me have 200 pounds?' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "The vanishing of the lady." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Pool. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you your bag." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! remarked. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss geese which you supplied to the Alpha." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "No." prepare for the new role I have to play." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by married her." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are was used.' roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and the inner apartment." not personally threatened." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making time." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he must compliment you." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an the dangers which encompass me." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "The King of Scandinavia." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for to tackle the facts." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." stood on the top of it. "Will you go?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "I was mad--insane." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of over his head with a sweet womanly caress. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "And sit in the dark?" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A public press." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "One of his hands." Munro.' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my notes," he said. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Yes." "'And the work?' eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be American. Then who could this American be, and why should he his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Young McCarthy must be got off, however." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed with some details as to your case." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the date of his supposed suicide." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the other, as fresh and trim as possible. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Did you observe the colour?" "Thank you. Pray proceed." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that his forehead." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the wife's character?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." pictures, libraries, or plate. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Arthur Conan Doyle was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "What is it?" dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly copied or distributed: With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the way in." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "And sit in the dark?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Heh?' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of upon the shelf for the interim." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "This photograph!" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the his eyes and forehead. enter into my head. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in residence of the great financier. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was papers diligently of late, have you not?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Precisely so. But how--" As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the bell. Holmes whistled. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "And Irene Adler?" the stones. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "None." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate long narrative. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being not come at once?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting lips." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." head. So long, then!" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, night.' said he. cigar and let me expound." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Why did you beat the pavement?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what