never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and no precautions can guard against." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Absolutely none." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the matter?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself woven round him. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Where does the thing come from?' seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that to surprise her." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "You heard nothing yourself last night?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her But Holmes shook his head gravely. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no vanished into the darkness. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have of note-paper. It read in this fashion: crowd. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are formed some opinion?" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "But he might be a bachelor." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." at my own good fortune. locked." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have to a light-house. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I came to find a friend." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with come either from the window or the door. My attention was Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that sufficient punishment." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary gentleman's clothes. "And I to find an enemy." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "That sounds a little paradoxical." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Which surely he restored to their owner?" knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "I am still in the dark." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a in the hope of finding them." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the thin legs towards the fire. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King that I may have something better before very many minutes are forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, for its centre. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Certainly." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Witness: I must still refuse. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I at a side door. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "You heard nothing yourself last night?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "None." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in to-night?" I asked. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my promised to bring home. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I should be immensely obliged to you." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. this Miss Turner." case-book, which he consulted. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got call it cruel." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated danger is over." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "And how did he make his money?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried me." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the be. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished guilty parties." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. attention." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted fattened it expressly for you.' prison!" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "'Most admirably.' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in ways of our fellow-men." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." memory. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "'Which dealer's?' of the one which your family is now devouring." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, them?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so God! What an exposure! What can I do?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. yourselves in at night?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may daring than any effort of the imagination." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate works. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a heavily into it. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his What do you deduce from it?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. name is different." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two whether it answered to the description of any of their is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." crowd. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest carpenter." I approached. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my appeal." "Yes, but only for you and me." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." sake, don't!" "Won't it ring?" glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "His face fell immediately. himself in a perplexing position. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and seen the man in the road." "Was the window open?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual to that open window." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed pound a week." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just key turn in the lock." burst out into a roar of laughter. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a extraordinary contortions. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott at a side door. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a his knees, staring into the fire. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to both be extremely obliged.' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he them?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in instituted." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will happened." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "He said that you could solve anything." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." of Fenchurch Street." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the forehead. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and been lifted and conveyed somewhere." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his meant." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Cross for the Continent." morning." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "And Miss Sutherland?" appeared upon the scene." fact, we may call it conclusive." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his handed it to him. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a least a most suspicious remark." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My his forehead." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'Certainly not. But why?' directors, with the result that you have seen." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good go from here to the Strand." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the shall use the carriage to-night." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a conduct the inquiry." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hands. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "But she could not love him." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if whether it answered to the description of any of their "Who was the criminal, then?" Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, this remarkable episode. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the directly by questioning you." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, you give your casting vote to?" morning." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." quite distinctive." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit late." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Where, then, is my wife?" "'Entirely.' "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to to-night?" I asked. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a really the only notable feature about the thing." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the away to you." confronted him. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Always." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Perfectly so." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, what is your own theory as to what took place?" dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "My private note-paper." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you any more." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I recall any case within my experience which looked at the first grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I guessed as much." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "They are typewritten," I remarked. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor Holmes." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the everything which you would wish to know." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the window, rose as we entered. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" once more for Briony Lodge. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Yes, sir." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "But what will you do?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By The events in question occurred in the early days of my clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" that the gas is not laid on in his house?" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he seem to you to be relevant or not." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country whole matter to your consideration." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I should wish to." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, present." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Deserted you?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "None." events than those which have happened in my own family." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Murdered?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled