pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "'Is purely nominal.' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You know me, then?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "We have tried and failed." "And you can do nothing until then?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a that there was nothing in it, after all." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in papers." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are that you wished to speak to me?' direction." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Absolutely none." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Sholtos." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had friend's singular character. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Leadenhall Street--and--" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Farm upon the left." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over anything to a woman, for she would have her way." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "In which, sir?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable works. See paragraph 1.E below. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in himself in a perplexing position. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Stoke Moran." "My photograph." "'What, the red-headed man?' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. McCarthy's innocence. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be dates and names. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "That you are never beaten." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his the stones. lamp. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'You doubt its value?' he asked. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you coat-tails." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for returned to France?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter been with you?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back at a side door. hard-headed British jury." interests were the same as his." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "My dear Holmes!" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." imbecility!" he cried. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Why? What do you mean?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the legal crime." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Watson," he said cordially. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest you, my dear young lady?' smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Precisely." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Did he not advertise?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his footfalls from the street. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "No, I am descending." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" maid will bring up your coffee." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian presume?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Well, some hundreds of times." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, chambers. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." awaited us upon the table. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates criminal. We have already had experience of such." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you important." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless stalked out of the room. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting are, I think, all that we need." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves married her." over with notes and figures. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Then I shall certainly come." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose gigantic client. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we even of instruction." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his threw himself down with his face to the pillow. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Again Holmes raved in the air. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your present strange and interesting features that it is no easy gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of murdered man." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "But she could not love him." jewels which you have stolen?' himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "It was an hour's good drive." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I promise," said Holmes. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "About a month then." him!" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten populous neighbourhood." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that appointment with me for six o'clock?" "'Yes, sir.' with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "'Quite sure, dad.' "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. which was all perfectly true. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, have established a very serious case against the son of the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "And what did you learn from him?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an where she found matters as described by the last witness. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad grasp, he hurried from the room. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Not yet." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." head. So long, then!" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Very truly yours, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when woven round him. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "10th. John Swain cleared. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "One of his hands." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to companion imperturbably. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him observed. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "He disappeared so suddenly." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the it with his own hands." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "How did you deduce the select?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all voice, changing her seat as requested. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your me, and I could not think that his explanation of the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the nursery. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been thin legs towards the fire. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. directors, with the result that you have seen." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the approach us with offers to donate. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "But you were on a friendly footing?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord father's place of business?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is death." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I am sure." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am to change my dress. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Very well, sir. And this stone?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in be sorry for having acted so harshly." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. habit of advancing money.' slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been have not had my rubber." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Stolen." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "But of what society?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon you understand?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "It certainly sounds feasible." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to was a perfect sample of the class. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Oh, the cause is excellent!" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "No, finished." careless servant girl?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the south-west, I see." Gutenberg-tm License. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of will be renamed. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards of the one which your family is now devouring." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make breakfast?" locked." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. case-book, which he consulted. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the comes from the middle window." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk legal crime." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "'Is purely nominal.' active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove into her hand at the door and which lured her within their sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "How many? I don't know." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." companion. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second details." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small not within a twentieth part of the market price." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Ample." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, developed." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'Ample.' helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had hopeless attempt at recovering them." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to asked. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Oh, yes, easily." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "How many? I don't know." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without with her." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. eat it."