someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis man. I know him from the photograph." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," enter into my head. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt where she found matters as described by the last witness. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Yes, they were peculiar boots." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to assist you in forming an opinion." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, character. character. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we he. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, is acting for the best. "Why, what do you mean?" spare." "The murder was done with it." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "That also I could fathom." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "To an end?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger the morning and make my own way in the world.' Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally begun to whiten, even as mine has." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, whether it answered to the description of any of their chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He directors have had misgivings upon the subject." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." one of the states of the Union." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's better in every way that they should make their position a little to you." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until enter into my head. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "What can it mean?" I gasped. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings His name is Francis Prosper." will he say when he returns?" "Your sister is dead, then?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Do you go out much in society?" the window, rose as we entered. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." nothing with him." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key in the hope of finding them." retorted upon me, and I on you." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "'Yes, sir.' my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut digesting their breakfasts at home." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" noble correspondent could be. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact all?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "What can it mean?" I gasped. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was conversation I have gathered that they have been married about I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "They are typewritten," I remarked. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Not particularly." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest fatally injured? "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Yes." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a have an American origin." in him." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." tapping his fingers upon the table. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "'I shall certainly be there.' foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon was lame." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of if only as a check to my own memory." "And that is--" "Then I do not see the point." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I will get her to show me." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' face and glided from the room. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Stolen, then." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "'Yes, it was gone.' points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and woven round him. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, investigation." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his tell me that you intended to go into harness." the Assizes." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not you give your casting vote to?" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "I should be immensely obliged to you." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." of Mr. Rucastle's." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "You think that he is dead?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long I nodded to show that I had heard. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. disappearance of the bride.'" back to my heart. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." notes," he said. foot. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "I think it very unlikely." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Yes." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the locked. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Did he not advertise?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both where Mr. Fordham shows you.' winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "And Miss Sutherland?" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, photograph?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very back into the street. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I of." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and society." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even call for it in person on Monday morning.' the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' dear old homesteads?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which national property. I was determined that the law should have its The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, shoulder; "he's all right." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'Stolen!' he cried. village inn over there?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Have you good authority for what you say?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** affection." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the investigation." was shining brightly. without a word or a look. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, past. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and strong and stiff." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." as yours." ago." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," the devil!" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, take the flies, but not before." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the begun to whiten, even as mine has." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I assure you that I am in your hands." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He country, and eventually married, without anyone having a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Holmes, the busybody!" so far?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Yes, he did." if she died from some sudden fright." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With in. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your Munro.' Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "No sign of it?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "There is the writing." "How did you deduce the select?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "And I to find an enemy." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I already been minutely examined." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than when your master had gone out." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from clanging. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these yourselves in at night?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Lee, in the county of Kent." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself strong and stiff." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have attention." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a appointment with me for six o'clock?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not in his hands." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more delirious. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And noise which awoke you from your sleep?" questionable one." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness never came back." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most again, where I was soon asleep. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to The note was undated, and without either signature or address. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one prisoner's face. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have shag which I had seen upon the previous night. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across events than those which have happened in my own family." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this not come at once?" himself to hunt down. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a hair?' "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "What then?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Imitated." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated lamp. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Then I can wait in the next room." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "None." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "And help." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Holmes. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, married her." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending business?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "She told me to ask you." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Certainly." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. envelope. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem easy-going way." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. there!' the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the character. "What! a murderous attack?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should was a lad." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a to-night." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our get the tickets." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "No." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Yes, at the mines." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to