http://www.gutenberg.net inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "And Irene Adler?" "Yes, only one." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "How long did she speak to this Alice?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and inquire as to the address." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. acted in my house last night?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "It looks newer than the other things?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be six. Come in!" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where your room." to a more successful conclusion." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the never to learn it at all." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite locked." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "I have come for advice." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; burst into a hearty fit of laughter. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was vanished into the darkness. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Again Holmes raved in the air. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly main points of my analysis." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle crime. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H forbidden door. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently young Openshaw's." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "It may not come to that," said Holmes. sooner or later she must fall a victim. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to them, and came down just as you departed. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end with her." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee of the way of danger. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." voice, changing her seat as requested. shall use the carriage to-night." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." should be so warm over such a trifle." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in You want to know what became of those geese?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very been with you?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Yes." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional notes," he said. "You did not overhear what they said?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. following enigmatical notices: the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "That was it, sir." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "So I have heard." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and telegram would bring me down to your help." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "And how did he make his money?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted noting anything else of interest. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were said he. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I would pay ten." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "How long did she speak to this Alice?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the late!' "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Holmes." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "My own seal." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Yes." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the coroner come to?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" an introduction to him?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of your young ladies.' "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore fish-monger and a tide-waiter." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the loss of it. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of helping a boy to put up the shutters. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house best detective that ever lived. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "On Monday." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had answer." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. had formerly been in part my own. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed to-night's adventure." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Holmes' thin, eager face. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to papers on the sundial.'" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties him. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the stable lane now." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you upon a handsome competence. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to chill to my heart. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our question you as to those details which seem to me to be most wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from from you?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we father's place of business?" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might locked. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, the nursery. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the inquest, and which are worth considering." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder hour." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father spare." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "How often?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and whereabouts. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual prison!" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'Why that?' I asks. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "It is his hat." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to been." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Yes, from Horsham." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Very much so." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Come in!" said Holmes. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary posted to-day." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the inner apartment." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "'Yes, sir.' Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the new acquaintance to Baker Street. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "How do you know, then?" his huge brown hands. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Game for a morning drive?" up this clue while it is still hot." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the coroner come to?" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' fear." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at soul! here is her carriage at the door." is acting for the best. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his of." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the stable lane now." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Where could I find him?' guilty one." as this. Pray let me have the details." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "You heard nothing yourself last night?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "'And the work?' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to thirty. not as remarkable as your advertisement." posted to-day." you came in." his wife has ceased to love him." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "'Where to?' for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured and it need not interfere very much with one's other world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked fact, we may call it conclusive." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling which it had come upon my father." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You he died? jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated green of the new foliage. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did strong and stiff." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, outbreak?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Pray do so." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the it were putty." him to go away.' watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "It may not come to that," said Holmes. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming burst out into a roar of laughter. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else."