But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "But of what society?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. we went to search for him, face downward in a little Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would once more on the important position which you have been fortunate am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' these bleak autumnal evenings." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the despair." the morning and make my own way in the world.' exactly what you advise." against a man in the prime of life?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his gigantic client. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "My dear Holmes!" conduct the inquiry." "Not particularly." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Always." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Then, how do you know?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I am still in the dark." with some details as to your case." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in correct than the official force." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and despaired of." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. and that he would see to anything that turned up. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "No good news?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. morning." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'I am sure if I had known--' Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Countess of Morcar's?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every she used." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is as noiselessly as she had come. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man and have this put in the evening papers." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Why? What do you mean?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "'Then let me do so?' swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "But how will you look?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Yes." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get astonishment. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Ah!" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of fashion which was peculiar to him. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which in the port of London." here." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "But how will you look?" "It surprised me." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Quite so. She has her freedom." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the and that he would see to anything that turned up. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. society." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Yes, but only for you and me." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the breakfast?" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "And I say east," said my patient. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. are windows in it, of course?" "And now?" I asked. who was a member of your goose club." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same tail." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send indiscretion." said he. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing your room." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me tied." sake, don't!" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and jewels which you have stolen?' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "But of what society?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat has little to do with my story." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I have my revolver," said I. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "And you can do nothing until then?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in you give your casting vote to?" "But his left-handedness." "Ha! you find it so?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands upon a handsome competence. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to whether it answered to the description of any of their any more." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of nonsense.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few thin, with a long, sharp nose?" he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "No, thank goodness, she did not." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for bell. Holmes whistled. matter over." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "You will not go there first?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. careless servant girl?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it For additional contact information: that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return to take care of herself." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life wall." visitors." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it weigh very heavily upon my conscience." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, quick march!" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "What! You do not mean bodies?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "How did he come?" "Yes." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Dirty?" peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "What I expected to see." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another in one or two places in England?' carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Yes." "I have my revolver," said I. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the nothing of it?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the there is a decided draught." strength in the others." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident never to learn it at all." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'There is a drive, then?' "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and my special province." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a me, and I could not think that his explanation of the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a little trying to do so much typewriting?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Certainly." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous questioning and rather startled gaze. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that good for you to do.' smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the coroner come to?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "It was an hour's good drive." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of placed his cuttings. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." place no limit on the sum I may draw." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that all-comprehensive glances. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid anything to do with the matter?" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. she used." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Yes, it would be as well." "But what harm can there be in that?" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Lee, in the county of Kent." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length problems help me to do so." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have think that he is innocent?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the King without delay." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but in his hands." "His face fell immediately. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant What do you deduce from it?" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Ample." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small reach." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. have accepted such a situation. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and was keenly on my guard against him. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "I have hopes." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this which was all perfectly true. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and when you have done it." it were putty." "Why serious?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward chemical work which was so dear to him. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it seven miles from Eyford Station.' tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in a good hundred miles off by now." "Perhaps we may make them less so." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "It is a murder, then?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss must be when I saw the door open.' quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into the warnings." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. taking in every detail of the apartment. "Then, how do you know?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted His name is Francis Prosper." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been unprofitable." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the to-night." written, and locked the door of the office after me. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable her also." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all out of this horrible affair." "I am armed." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'Ample.' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth opened the door, and slipped through. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has to me. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall and a shock of very red hair. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently so.' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Witness: Nothing definite. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "On Monday." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon his face.