actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make points to suicide?" detective. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "'Never.' there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. constraint." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in go from here to the Strand." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, occupations.' think that he is innocent?" "A call for help, you thought?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. even of instruction." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter flock.' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Yes, he did." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. nice household for a young lady." tied." as yours." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he have one." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal she has been waylaid. There has been no result." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were four million human beings all jostling each other within the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but salesman. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On was already answered. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in case before our client came into the room." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He to a light-house. "This concluded the examination of the witness." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES did not hear it also.' with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to served to weaken the effect. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "To the police?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns noting anything else of interest. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police if I call to-morrow?" at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my light and attacked it." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. this as likely?" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I ready to-morrow?' those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband may never be exposed to such a temptation." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is dates and names. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Have you her photograph?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Entirely." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Very truly yours, mysterious business." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is derbies." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention unprecedented a position." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at is four-and-twenty." of Mr. Rucastle's." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead we went to search for him, face downward in a little was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "My stepfather's business papers." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of introspective fashion. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "'You cannot say what it was?' "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of time." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for skylight. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross lost his Christmas dinner." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid subject to the trademark license, especially commercial doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your your only hope of safety." be.' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. went to the Alpha were town bred." may have an influence upon European history." could go. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." III. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been bears upon the case?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' amused." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and not come at once?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Murdered?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. coroner's jury." case before our client came into the room." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small helping a boy to put up the shutters. do." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his habit of advancing money.' lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Certainly." "But how did you gain them?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have his forehead." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Is he quiet?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper province." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the address that was given us in the advertisement. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled present strange and interesting features that it is no easy We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. himself to hunt down. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'Which dealer's?' twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of hour?' dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its in a very precise fashion." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at his wife has ceased to love him." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the them present such singular features as the strange train of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I have come for advice." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. third from London." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any speckled band?" gbnewby@pglaf.org us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Lee, in the county of Kent." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from straightened it out again. union?" "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was whole matter to your consideration." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Your presence might be invaluable." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have if I call to-morrow?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a seem to you to be relevant or not." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest meant it for the best. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of your sleep?' be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" I shall communicate with you." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The have one." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "What are they?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Gutenberg-tm License. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to was a lad." weary and pale-looking. business matters.' along the entire front of the house, with three long windows companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in out of this horrible affair." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations cup of tea. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the fishes. trifles." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Nearly eleven." closing the door. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and there has been an enclosure here!" his huge brown hands. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "And your mother is alive?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two ways including including checks, online payments and credit card seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to cigars in the box." certainly not very gracious." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "No, I am descending." should be taken.' "He disappeared so suddenly." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Yes, all." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, depend upon my doing so.' "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took had formerly been in part my own. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That hardly wander." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the made his money." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods noble correspondent could be. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of to his chemical studies. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. you want, then?' a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice bed dies. Does not that strike you?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "It is true that I have been generally successful." here." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; ran thus: "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. in his hands." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "To an end?" "The landlord of the Alpha." approach us with offers to donate. lost nothing by them." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able to-night?' and the colonel ushered me in. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, this poor creature." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still