"I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and definite end. all?" upon a handsome competence. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "'About the same.' bare slabs of marble. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Witness: It was. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "And when will you call?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote digesting their breakfasts at home." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too papers must be those that are destroyed.' "So it appears." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide You can understand that this register and diary may implicate reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my wall." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the running down." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend hour?' "But I have heard all that you have heard." you." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near will take you up to see the machine.' much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the look upon these things in a different way." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Who by?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "'Ample.' coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken nothing of it?" very morning of my second wedding." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "But of what society?" away to you." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Pray continue your narrative." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I like that before?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me had died away into the silence from which it rose. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? investigation." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "To an English lawyer named Norton." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press my room." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and matter over." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "What will you do, then?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Then I am your man." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project have got?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. do." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "What, then, did Peterson do?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I had died away into the silence from which it rose. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel purpose equally well?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Very murderous indeed." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "In the cells." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his arrangements." whatever might befall. beyond words. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was not, dad?" she asked. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'How far from the body?' you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock forecastle of an emigrant ship. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy characteristics, but those are the more obvious." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, just ask you whether you had heard it.' present." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." photograph a cabinet?" posted to-day." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. hands. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, works. See paragraph 1.E below. goes." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work which was all perfectly true. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "'And what salary do you ask?' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed as he folded up the epistle. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may disappearance of these gems?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. written. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a has little to do with my story." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Pope's Court. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." think you a quite exceptional woman." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to face and glided from the room. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Not social, then?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. his huge brown hands. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent interests were the same as his." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked business." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my learned something! Where are the gems?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the inquest, and which are worth considering." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with system of imprisonment?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Pray let us have it, for all that." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about disappearance of the bride.'" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Yes, all." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of locked. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. gigantic client. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously come either from the window or the door. My attention was the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though village inn over there?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length mystery!" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. it." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have once more. there!' certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with deduce something from that?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have of a light. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed II. garden below. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' think you a quite exceptional woman." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, lectures into a series of tales." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts he bowed and left the room without another word. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. confronted him. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account keep the flames under. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "But the mystery?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" few hundred pounds.' maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but minor matters until to-morrow." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the chance." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad said he. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that to-night." "The murder was done with it." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, strength in the others." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' back alive. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, despair." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Gutenberg-tm License. and looked back. to have that photograph." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not arms and began to sob in a high treble key. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, three fields round his house, and there he would take his him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, works. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "How did he come?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Not I." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our success. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty copied or distributed: with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon was a lad." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And that is--" permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations You want to know what became of those geese?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property may have an influence upon European history." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. what I may call a really hard day's work." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet events, Mr. Windibank!" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the was it brought him the coronet? can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the stones. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." read over the extraordinary announcement. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "In what way?" asked Holmes. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. seven miles from Eyford Station.' and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, mysterious end." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and which was all perfectly true. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'Which dealer's?' whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, was a lad." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, remarked. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said nothing with him." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "But your client--" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I brain must have something in it." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. conduct the inquiry." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for is worth.' Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Yes." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "To an end?" have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "On Monday." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, annoyance, but no jest. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Could he throw no light?" "Yes, that is the Crown." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not himself in a perplexing position. golden eyeglasses. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "And you don't know his address?" to you." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and other means.' Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as closing the door. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like outside. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar call it cruel." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was