question," said Holmes, smiling. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was remarked. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from troubles have been weighing upon his mind. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I came to find a friend." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from strange features which were associated with the two crimes which better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Munro.' "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Why? What do you mean?" was a loud and authoritative tap. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "If I can be of use." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single think that any burglar could have done. locked. "I am armed." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled that "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Yes, sir." than to us. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a and all of them with the keenest interest. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help one which it was hard to resist. crowd. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every read it out to me." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the you." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 see me here to avoid scandal." already been minutely examined." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. what is your own theory as to what took place?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced enough to aid us in our search." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' existence." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his both be extremely obliged.' in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, depend upon my doing so.' foot. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself way in everything. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was in. and a shock of very red hair. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to thin legs towards the fire. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any him." The King stared at him in amazement. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "What, then, did Peterson do?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young developed." said he at last. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is very morning of my second wedding." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, noting anything else of interest. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Then I do not see the point." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the wedding?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and a shock of very red hair. "Was there a secret marriage?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Your French gold?" money should be paid at once.' himself in a perplexing position. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit several quiet little villages up there." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and look dissatisfied." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. other lovers by making love himself." "Married! When?" "Was your sister dressed?" sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "'There is a drive, then?' was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Why, what do you mean?" "Have you it here?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter later, upon the night of May 2nd." results." "How did you trace it, then?" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, be best to do. the bed, and you in that chair." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do rooms." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "But how will you look?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his in the dead of the night?' means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. villagers almost as much as their master. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the so-precious time, but come!' "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the coroner come to?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing sparkled upon his finger. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his I leave." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "But you have hopes?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Yes." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before upon the white wrist. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'Never,' said I. hand, madam?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Was there a secret marriage?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "None." "Was the window open?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has sofa. This way, please!" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "He is still with you, I presume?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "'Ample.' this truth that in these little records of our cases which you sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when just ask you whether you had heard it.' observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, in the dead of the night?' whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, key of the affair now." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down IS "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." the driver. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Chief Executive and Director the window, rose as we entered. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we goes." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, open." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Witness: Nothing definite. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by everything which you would wish to know." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and carried out of court." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a strength." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and shall probably return to London by the evening train." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "'Quite sure, dad.' "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "And now?" He raised his hand. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in it were putty." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" coroner's jury." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Pray do so." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who observed. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson mystery." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'Quite sure, dad.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "I don't say that. Perhaps." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Holmes." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in not, dad?" she asked. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us undoubtedly my uncle's." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I together. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "'Is 4 pounds a week.' lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "The knees of his trousers." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of there in twenty minutes." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. fishes. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between hopeless attempt at recovering them." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both delighted to hear it," he said. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." matter." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "My last client of the sort was a king." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the disappearance of the bride.'" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "What will you do, then?" "I say that I have solved it." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Farm upon the left." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I from the brougham. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Certainly." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm wedding?" answered with a sidelong glance. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I shall be delighted." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Precisely." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. sofa. This way, please!" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very derbies." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "And I say east," said my patient. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness.