compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "'Very good.' or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found disturbance in my wife." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "What will you say?" open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Does that suggest anything?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Indeed! Whose, then?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. question," said Holmes, smiling. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the present." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove was not a bird to be seen there. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "No, thank goodness, she did not." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a suggested at once that there must be a communication between the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of spare." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. article?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in in his power. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we was lame." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain to surprise her." "Yes, at the mines." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my had formerly been in part my own. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper distinguish the words: in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad opened the door, and slipped through. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, envelope. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you of Fenchurch Street." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Here?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'I have already given you my word.' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical views." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Your French gold?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "What will you say?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I strong and stiff." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "And now?" He raised his hand. would then never go into court at all." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his his grey eyes. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Precisely." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and where she found matters as described by the last witness. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, lectures into a series of tales." father's place of business?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an paper in the air. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Yes." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already woven round him. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Yes. He waved his hands." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all morning." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Where, indeed?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it emerged. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. them?" "I came to find a friend." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It III. someone who had been in Australia." them?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Yes." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you likely to be some crony of the landlady's." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I arrested. You then--" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill just ask you whether you had heard it.' not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been undoubtedly my uncle's." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "And now?" I asked. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "'Yes, I promise.' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." exactly what you advise." "I guessed as much." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Never to return." Foundation given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having his fortune, and I went back to pa. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very putting in the horse. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "My stepfather's business papers." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" and the whole place is in a blaze." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. green of the new foliage. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Pool. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already bare slabs of marble. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all I think that I could be of assistance to you." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And already been minutely examined." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it wife's character?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" me. You must get home instantly and act." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was directors, with the result that you have seen." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my father's place of business?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'I shall certainly be there.' however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, entirely lost his self-respect." the dangers which encompass me." upon a handsome competence. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" confronted him. strong reason behind." "I will get her to show me." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little passage and a tap at the door. "But not more so than I to find you." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as and effective." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Clair, of Lee." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly upon the sideboard." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "If I can be of use." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, character. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we rose-bushes. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there from the brougham. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has constraint." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "No more words. Get out!" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow morning." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come daring than any effort of the imagination." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "I cannot tell." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached him to be an active member of the medical profession." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in chance at all." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the before the coroner and the police-court." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety not within a twentieth part of the market price." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "That you are never beaten." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. and have this put in the evening papers." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my hair?' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that golden eyeglasses. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from out of this horrible affair." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a as he remarks, very much against the son." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. affection." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom lost nothing by them." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Witness: I must still refuse. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin system of imprisonment?" "It is very clear." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Frequently." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan examine." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Foundation see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his which should have the effect of calling the attention of the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Never.' are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the in a friendly supper." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "But his lameness?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "He said that you could solve anything." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "To ruin me." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" morning." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his name is different." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere highly," said Holmes. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "And help." get her out of the way." developed." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "But what harm can there be in that?" with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity."