"With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be interest. They are important, you understand, without being sofa. This way, please!" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. instituted." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said and put his glass in his pocket. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was and all of them with the keenest interest. "I answered that I had not. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Quite so. She has her freedom." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was into the bag, and made for the door. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is which we had just quitted. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her matter over." enter into my head. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began promised to bring home. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do a monotonous occupation." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "I cannot say that I have." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and showing my impatience. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital and shall probably return to London by the evening train." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Sutherland. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "'I have already given you my word.' strength." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Do you know him?" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have DAMAGE. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "My own seal." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley straighten it?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "None. Neville wrote those words." "If I can be of use." think that any burglar could have done. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! footfalls from the street. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat some terrible trap for her." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." me what he had done with the three missing stones. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, for and were ordered to this address. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "'It is locked up,' I answered. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is tapping his fingers upon the table. these bleak autumnal evenings." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "No, I think that I'll take it." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Very much so." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before minor matters until to-morrow." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed there were so many in the whole country as were brought together asked with his eyes open. hand, madam?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." them?" "You have but to name it." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that matters immensely." at my own good fortune. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at to-night's adventure." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a tell them apart.' He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. his face which made him a very different person to the round, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "What, then, did Peterson do?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND carriage. It was a chestnut." hurried by. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Witness: I must still refuse. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Yes, I have one waiting." down. conclusions. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be works. such attractions and accomplishments?' fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "An enemy?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your if I call to-morrow?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was now. It seems that there had been some informality about their uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual get her out of the way." had formerly been in part my own. learned something! Where are the gems?" "You have carte blanche." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little closing the door. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was wanted for ourselves." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of to tackle the facts." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and cause to be." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: said I. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "To ruin me." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Not social, then?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the general public were present, then?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his this Miss Turner." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "An enemy?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Only as much as we can deduce." companion imperturbably. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Eh? What was that?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "The doctor?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can your co-operation." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." your most interesting statement." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, through." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "By all means." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the his eyes and forehead. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see spare." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the criminal. We have already had experience of such." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "It is solved." despair." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable James Windibank. Voilà tout!" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this gone. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us http://gutenberg.net/license). I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made call for protection in the marriage market, for the present must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I don't say that. Perhaps." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer direction." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of developed." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding photograph?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out DISSOLVED. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found most interesting one." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will assist you in forming an opinion." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here his cane at the bell-pull. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Then, how do you know?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Has he come with you to-night?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his true." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no charge against him will break down." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at became a certainty. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "None." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Your sister is dead, then?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy husband's writing, madam." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed who was a member of your goose club." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most infinite languor in his face. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and relation between them, and what the object of his repeated air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the behind me. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating where she found matters as described by the last witness. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "In answer to an advertisement." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "'Never.' was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's points in connection with it which never have been, and probably next day. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Eyford at 11:15.' jewels which you have stolen?' Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual least a most suspicious remark." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Yes." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, business?" whatever might befall. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, you do it in twenty minutes!' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "10th. John Swain cleared. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "I never have." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable question you as to those details which seem to me to be most after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "But what is it you wish?" "Not particularly." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of