Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences salesman. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and into the bag, and made for the door. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, a very grave face. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some pressing in one house as in another. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Your presence might be invaluable." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and public press." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Mrs. Toller serenely. "I say it is." the coronet at all injured?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Absolutely?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I cannot tell." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are other lovers by making love himself." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at hereditary King of Bohemia." key turn in the lock." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "Won't it ring?" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "You are hungry," I remarked. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "You have the photograph?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Texas, I think." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. one's self under obligations.' "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Very truly yours, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other fishes. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Henry Baker is a member." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "What can you not understand?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism photograph?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "'Certainly,' I answered. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "From his hat?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that it." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Yes, all." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Texas, I think." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under some water from a caraffe. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "It is possible." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "A client, then?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the me have 200 pounds?' searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend outsides of the windows. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "What is it, then--a fire?" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be constraint." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Do you go out much in society?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "But what will you do?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the is acting for the best. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' him." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the running down." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Certainly." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. persecution?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Quite so. She has her freedom." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me said I. "You were travelling in the States?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some at home. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have someone who had been in Australia." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY already referred to. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to mystery may be cleared along those lines." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Pope's Court. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to fuss that is made over them." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing upon the sideboard." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was 'please.'" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem on in his house." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in events, Mr. Windibank!" handed it to him. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a bare slabs of marble. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Yes, sir." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and rat could hardly pass through." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending anything to a woman, for she would have her way." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "But she will refuse." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Lee, in the county of Kent." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "We must sit without light. He would see it through the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was The King stared at him in amazement. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall it." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'What are you doing there?' he asked. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "How often?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside nonsense.' drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Watson," he said cordially. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the the bed, and you in that chair." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "How long did she speak to this Alice?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press memory. "And Irene Adler?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any appeared upon the scene." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the child." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer future lives." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me this Miss Turner." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" burst out into a roar of laughter. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland of the vacancies.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been both be extremely obliged.' learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Was he the only applicant?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" upon the shelf for the interim." time." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if friends, not even his own brother. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." everything which you would wish to know." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "No." distinguish the words: the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known advice." upon an income of about 60 pounds." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to face and glided from the room. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "What have you to say now?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. during which he might have communicated with his friend the him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "He said too much." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "'In my own bureau.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "And your mother is alive?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you way in everything. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Pool. British peeress.'" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. overpowering excitement and concern. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Nothing?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Holmes." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Foundation even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, know that the truth is known." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin events, Mr. Windibank!" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to her also." and put his glass in his pocket. power." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. less than 26s. 4d. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. to Leatherhead. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Awake, Watson?" he asked. know all about it," he snarled. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me over here." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "My last client of the sort was a king." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to