his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Lestrade of Scotland Yard." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." opened the door, and slipped through. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "And Irene Adler?" "The best possible." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works your room." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad whatever might befall. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian British peeress.'" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Indeed! Whose, then?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "I promise," said Holmes. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "And from a noble client?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." it means?" on in his house." amused." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He you want, then?' overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I have hopes." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The furiously. at a side door. lumber-room." cost them two and thirty pounds." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Munro.' surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every off." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "In heaven's name, what for?" out." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my my former friend and companion. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. his eyes and forehead. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the window, rose as we entered. arrangements." shoulder; "he's all right." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. ago." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that matter." desk. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Holmes." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources nights." "Yes, all." memory. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "I cannot imagine." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most your billet.' "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Lestrade of Scotland Yard." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "At half-wages, in fact." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the bird of prey. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "How on earth--" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "And why in hopes?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and disappearance of these gems?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and cost them two and thirty pounds." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Yes." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the coronet in his hands?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its tied." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. tail." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'About the same.' With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Very truly yours, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "No, my brougham is waiting." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" nothing of it?" forbidden door. that I may have something better before very many minutes are and it need not interfere very much with one's other as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Yes, only one." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Your French gold?" a room. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "I don't believe it." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I http://gutenberg.net/license). social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few thin legs towards the fire. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Did you observe the colour?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "You heard nothing yourself last night?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to chair. think, you have already met." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a three fields round his house, and there he would take his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall guilty parties." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Nothing?" "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "It is very kind of you." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" call for protection in the marriage market, for the present in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly you give your casting vote to?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Do you receive much company?" he asked. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and before, for it was considerably after midnight. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, congratulate you again." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing green of the new foliage. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "And how did you find out?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Then he might have called to you?" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "By no means." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "None." "But you can know nothing of this?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward in a friendly supper." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? occupations.' rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the address that was given us in the advertisement. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is shall not find me ungrateful." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the answer." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "No." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself over here." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, it." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit becomes even more simple." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the soul! here is her carriage at the door." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "I cannot imagine." way in everything. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the so far?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful digesting their breakfasts at home." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the would then never go into court at all." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped true." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "'Yes, sir.' "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about question. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Pool. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "But you have hopes?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Ten will be early enough." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the touch that coronet?' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to there was no need for father to know." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'A dozen yards or so.' forebodings. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the the side-table." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "What shall I do?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, on re-entering her father's house?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. are, and they are waiting for us." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the coroner come to?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is allusion to a rat. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For hurried by. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had purpose of examination. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "One?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was likely to be some crony of the landlady's." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant promised to bring home. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "I was mad--insane." "He is dead," cried several voices. look dissatisfied." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than which was all perfectly true. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "And Miss Sutherland?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about any more." "And is that all?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Was your sister dressed?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, that "'I am sure that I do not know.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a astonishment. distinguish the words: upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "No bad?" that you wished to speak to me?' distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon most important business. It is probable that he will be away all family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but simple cases which are so extremely difficult." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "But what will you do?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, should be taken.' it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Sholtos." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at there is a decided draught." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of away to you." "And you don't know his address?" "You think so, too?" went to the Alpha were town bred." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "And I to find an enemy." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Thank you. Pray proceed." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." learned something! Where are the gems?" your most interesting statement." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my conceal it?" "So I have heard." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence examination of the premises, but without finding anything which the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. wedding?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the questionable one." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal."