I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate even of instruction." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. trying to your nerves." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "And leave your case unfinished?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "I think it very unlikely." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Holmes. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste sit on the left-hand side of the driver." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "A thing like a cleaver," said he. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Yes, that is the Crown." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we intimate personal affairs in this public manner." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous and I shall be with you presently." "To the police?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California stammered. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock that threaten you." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "'About the same.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "No." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. the side-table." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were fire. You quite follow me?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. absorbing." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Yes." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I am following you closely," I answered. "A greater distance to travel." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Holmes, the busybody!" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my entirely lost his self-respect." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the mystery." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "A client, then?" constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an opportunities to fix the problem. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. bears upon the case?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "You are certainly joking, Holmes." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and been deceived." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his to-night's adventure." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the is four-and-twenty." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client go back?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that himself. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little touch that coronet?' coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the for the market.' Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. highroad, where all traces were lost. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Pray do so." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over your only hope of safety." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an certainly not very gracious." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't union?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Well, some hundreds of times." "The Coroner: What do you mean? as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "What steps will you take?" I asked. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been look dissatisfied." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey knowledge of the world." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes already been minutely examined." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand in darkness. "'What do you call purely nominal?' doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Yes, I have one waiting." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Nearly eleven." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the very morning of the wedding." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "'Certainly not. But why?' "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, drove away. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some chemical work which was so dear to him. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain His name is Francis Prosper." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Yes, certainly." think that any burglar could have done. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "The best possible." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had union?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." forehead. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not occurred." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something train from Paddington which would bring you there at about likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian guilty one." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his was keenly on my guard against him. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, into the bag, and made for the door. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "No, I had a dozen." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some threw himself down with his face to the pillow. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? there has been an enclosure here!" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Farm upon the left." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see but preventing her from injuring another. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in of Fenchurch Street." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which way in everything. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying them?" the driver. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he of the vacancies.' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of the very morning of the wedding." important." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Perhaps I have." papers must be those that are destroyed.' vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that throat." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the memory. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone this man was intellectual?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I started for the Temple to see my husband. with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead asked. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. http://www.gutenberg.net not personally threatened." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found your room." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. strong and stiff." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, again, where I was soon asleep. "Perfectly so." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly voice. was it brought him the coronet? go back?" the tragedy. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it over here." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I at my remark. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not you." "I am armed." your only hope of safety." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you recover the gem." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out to that open window." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward bill, which interests me deeply." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much to arrive at through this?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. three fields round his house, and there he would take his My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "An enemy?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the like that before?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "At what time?" system of imprisonment?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an her also." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the in one or two places in England?' "But how?" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." despair." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "You are certainly joking, Holmes." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." be. during that time.' multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "And the cigar-holder?" will take you up to see the machine.' beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and woman." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes respectable self." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so least a fellow-countryman. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" he bowed and left the room without another word. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Upon what point?" tear off another piece?' "It is very clear." companion. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but The note was undated, and without either signature or address. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in forebodings. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "And from a noble client?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen must compliment you." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By them?" "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have present." "Yes, from Horsham." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she My friend smiled. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and prosperity to your house. Good-night." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what a few minutes he said that it would be all right. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Well, but China?" in him." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. grasp, he hurried from the room. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" and the whole place is in a blaze." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Farm upon the left." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official when you have done it." row." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "What are they?" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Yes." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "'Yes, sir.' manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the events than those which have happened in my own family." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much this unhappy family?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "'Certainly not.' it right.' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, presume?" "Ah!" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the