long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I introspective fashion. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" directly by questioning you." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "When did she vanish, then?" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey it right.' habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "It's nothing of the kind." "Very murderous indeed." opportunities to fix the problem. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "'Yes, sir.' questionable one." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "They are typewritten," I remarked. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. of the one which your family is now devouring." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an once more to my work. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "And your father? Did you tell him?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to take the flies, but not before." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "I will try. What is it?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then go back?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. DISSOLVED. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until as noiselessly as she had come. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Not in a good cause." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." front of me. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the ceiling. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "You forget that I know nothing about it." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch instituted." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my ago." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of front of me. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter orange pips. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the strength in the others." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible himself to tell his story. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and there!' Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "My Mary? Impossible!" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the very morning of the wedding." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I way: handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "And I to find an enemy." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the very letters. But what is this written above them?' business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said posted to-day." "How did you trace it, then?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the tragedy. to-night's adventure." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the loss of it. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening face and glided from the room. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon impression behind it as though a window had gently closed dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "And I say east," said my patient. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Yes." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. his fortune, and I went back to pa. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a you." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I him nearly every evening." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony helping a boy to put up the shutters. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one I nodded to show that I had heard. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I do." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Imitated." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my down from London to inquire more deeply into it." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A think that he is innocent?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the you, my dear young lady?' "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I am sure." interests were the same as his." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I of them has the shutters up.' the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I child?' but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the individual and becomes the badge of a society." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "What can you not understand?" learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "By no means." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "In answer to an advertisement." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, should be so warm over such a trifle." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers photograph?" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. hair?' "I cannot tell." "And did you observe any change in her then?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An bill, which interests me deeply." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled breakfast and whispered something to her husband. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had my former friend and companion. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "That is unusual in a young girl." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to shall not find me ungrateful." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. recover the gem." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Then how many are there?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad extraordinary contortions. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might ran thus: of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at outside." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "What then?" "'Ample.' "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "To an English lawyer named Norton." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "It is to him that this trophy belongs." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father upon the sideboard." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence beyond words. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Heh?' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Well, some hundreds of times." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Ha! you find it so?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his infinite languor in his face. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great together. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY mystery!" row." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Where is it, then?" straightened it out again. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well to change my dress. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora next day. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her in the dead of the night?' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless colour had been driven from his face. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Thank you. And your address?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Yes, from Horsham." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "What?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a kind enough to tell me what I should do." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." my former friend and companion. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the following enigmatical notices: "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Holmes, the busybody!" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small later, upon the night of May 2nd." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Perhaps we may make them less so." "How about poison?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, detained." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Pope's Court. forecastle of an emigrant ship. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in me have 200 pounds?' a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "She told me to ask you." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward someone who had been in Australia." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered examination of the premises, but without finding anything which room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "'About the same.' unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to ran thus: conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Never." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and suspect him." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might think you a quite exceptional woman." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "I will get her to show me." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which six. Come in!" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood crime." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an