"If I can be of use." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and through." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Doctor, of the paper and the date." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made room. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting ready to-morrow?' yet." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Nothing." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "I have come for advice." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his again on its way. "'Yes, I promise.' hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the ourselves in the office." "Nothing." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "I am armed." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without make me his representative both with the servants and with the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom matters immensely." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person views." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" little adventures." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I was certainly surprised to find you there." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon http://www.gutenberg.net "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the nonsense.' enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been name is different." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire the night.' understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Yes, sir.' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Where, indeed?" I shall communicate with you." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should just ask you whether you had heard it.' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "But his lameness?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Did your wife hear all this?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that desk. the coronet at all injured?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I individual and becomes the badge of a society." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can are windows in it, of course?" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the matter." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed better grown goose." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of never will be, entirely cleared up. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the devil!" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "To an end?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of her also." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "It looks newer than the other things?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "And when will you call?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "How did that help you?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads strength." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn annoyance, but no jest. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Yes." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, to that open window." morning." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said her also." "And you thought he was pulled back?" rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "'How far from the body?' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "What is it?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I assure you that I am in your hands." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their third from London." coroner's jury." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather made his money." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready astonishment. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be over here." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a it." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "And is that all?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the window, rose as we entered. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive death." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Could he throw no light?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the never came back." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. writing, and yet I know it well." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" manager. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since gone. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank there!' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in had died away into the silence from which it rose. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out ourselves in the office." "The King of Scandinavia." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Nearly eleven." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a http://gutenberg.net/license). disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary was a perfect sample of the class. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said some terrible trap for her." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "No." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Holmes' face clouded over. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Who was the criminal, then?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I do." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Yes. He waved his hands." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the shoulder. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "But your client--" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that it were putty." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental your troubles." "To an English lawyer named Norton." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "I was afraid that you were engaged." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "'What would be the hours?' I asked. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "My Mary? Impossible!" Cross for the Continent." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet bearing upon the case." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of companion imperturbably. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was together. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for useful material for showing traces. The double line a little should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "And why in hopes?" how narrow had been my escape. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is case-book, which he consulted. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "No, thank goodness, she did not." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with of this gang." "No." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon will be renamed. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others daring than any effort of the imagination." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a have I gained?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out 1.F. "Did you observe the colour?" unprecedented a position." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who this as likely?" "I am armed." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I window when the police appeared." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Not him." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "'I have already given you my word.' drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten to arrive at through this?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "No." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks enough to aid us in our search." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If is," said he presently: "'Yes, sir.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made individual and becomes the badge of a society." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Not I." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre fattened it expressly for you.' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this details." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "And on what day did he meet his death?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Stolen, then." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "In heaven's name, what for?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest I leave." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my delighted to hear it," he said. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious hereditary King of Bohemia." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "We were both in the photograph." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Then I do not see the point." "Certainly." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "You have the photograph?" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "How can you tell that?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily to a more successful conclusion." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa were wasted." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of Mr. Rucastle's." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, danger is over." drove away. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in other, as fresh and trim as possible. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest bears upon the case?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I am about to be married." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few shoulder; "he's all right." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Holmes, the busybody!" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring come either from the window or the door. My attention was to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" kindly on the shoulder. do.' "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning coat-tails." call for it in person on Monday morning.' ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they such attractions and accomplishments?' "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Pool. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Frequently." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable as the one I chose?' o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "'There is a drive, then?' He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. forehead. directors, with the result that you have seen." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I yards of it?' photograph a cabinet?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I