the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Quite so. She has her freedom." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from girl said." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "And the murderer?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his used to be." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a promised to bring home. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg IS electronic works should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such matters immensely." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin and wait." to some other building. "And you can do nothing until then?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I was used.' "It was." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the strong reason behind." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your that I may have something better before very many minutes are her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Again Holmes raved in the air. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Certainly, madam." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and capable of preserving a secret.' "'Never,' said I. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." jewels which you have stolen?' doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to this unhappy family?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be past. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "No." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with you came in." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the but preventing her from injuring another. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "But what is it you wish?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. crackling voice. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage gone. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, be sorry for having acted so harshly." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "He is still with you, I presume?" A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by John Swain, of St. Augustine. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. and all of them with the keenest interest. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I am following you closely," I answered. "Not I." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "Where did he live, then?" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase of." fashion which was peculiar to him. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Why? What do you mean?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are down in his armchair and closing his eyes. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an words came to my lips. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." main points of my analysis." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in wanted for ourselves." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my weigh very heavily upon my conscience." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with you came in." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the a good hundred miles off by now." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have sound at heart." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of least a most suspicious remark." "Nothing." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "'Oh, no.' "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are just ask you whether you had heard it.' next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a weary and pale-looking. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one suspect him." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Indeed! Whose, then?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than because she had spent so short a time in this country that she you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the one as in the other." "Ah!" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "It missed him, then?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Project Gutenberg-tm works. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then see a sister of mine apply for." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. to-morrow." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend round and wave him away like that.' to talk it over. 1.F. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own this unhappy family?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "I have come for advice." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him it." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. strong and stiff." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." was a perfect sample of the class. recover the gem." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can and it need not interfere very much with one's other paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "What will you do, then?" such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney chamber." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I you." your room." confronted him. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "The landlord of the Alpha." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Yes." think, you have already met." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I am sure." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean examination of the premises, but without finding anything which other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced green of the new foliage. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, them?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the generous with you in money matters.' determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and gentleman's clothes. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and experiences." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke business." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Always." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of hard-headed British jury." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "I will get her to show me." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Lee, in the county of Kent." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera said he. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, ran thus: the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Yes, the wine-cellar." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable his huge brown hands. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Stoke Moran?" said he. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. in one or two places in England?' "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds in darkness. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "And your father? Did you tell him?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the already been minutely examined." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" himself in a perplexing position. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. it." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a in his power. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds better in every way that they should make their position a little With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. sofa. This way, please!" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It undoubtedly my uncle's." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his to a light-house. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I God! What an exposure! What can I do?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Watson," he said cordially. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "What! Had he lost his wife?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "He might." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Yes." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Where, indeed?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "It surprised me." the nursery. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot arrested. You then--" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the vault. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "That is not always so easy." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "You have carte blanche." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return What do you deduce from it?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. past. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Ten will be early enough." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the warnings." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated crowd. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. 1.F. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, retorted upon me, and I on you." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a one of the states of the Union." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "At the wedding breakfast." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "'A dozen yards or so.' "'Certainly not.' "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "A greater distance to travel." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Munro.' last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as was once confined in the cab my mission was practically to take care of herself." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his wife has ceased to love him." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this do.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. would apply.' six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which orange pips. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Entirely." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "That was it, sir." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose chamber." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which power." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I gives a meaning to it." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it presented which may be striking and bizarre without being his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he