engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first six. Come in!" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things following enigmatical notices: may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a said I. breakfast." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back when your master had gone out." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. it means?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the taking in every detail of the apartment. bled considerably." 1.E.9. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY learned something! Where are the gems?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut an introduction to him?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous crime. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To was not a bird to be seen there. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the ceiling. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the salesman. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "My dear Holmes!" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Yes, it would be as well." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "I am to be neutral?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "And your mother is alive?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." putting in the horse. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Yes." seven miles from Eyford Station.' sneer upon his pale face. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through this as likely?" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "So I heard. You have him here?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "I would pay ten." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness fait accompli?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "'Most admirably.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his carriage. It was a chestnut." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Where to?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, clanging. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "A call for help, you thought?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'Not at all. I only doubt--' sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "'Which dealer's?' directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I advice." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing DAMAGE. "I cannot imagine." the night.' however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a which we had just quitted. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his of the one which your family is now devouring." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a too. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears he. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true writers could invent nothing more crude." "So I have heard." "She told me to ask you." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old again, where I was soon asleep. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'Yes, I promise.' What do you deduce from it?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. pound a week." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet only touch the interest." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of feature." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "It came here." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Ah, but I was recommended to you." strength of mind to control. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "That sounds a little paradoxical." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I long narrative. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that me have 200 pounds?' specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked a monotonous occupation." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "He is dead," cried several voices. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a fattened it expressly for you.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm fatally injured? donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version his face which made him a very different person to the round, Leadenhall Street--and--" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible indeed happy." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his burst into a hearty fit of laughter. papers diligently of late, have you not?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Won't it ring?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Your French gold?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "He is dead," cried several voices. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Pray continue your narrative." are, I think, all that we need." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. father's young wife. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a problems help me to do so." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "None. Neville wrote those words." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I am following you closely," I answered. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Absolutely?" lost his Christmas dinner." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether gone. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you without a word or a look. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is tell me that you intended to go into harness." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned him and tried to hold him back. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's think you a quite exceptional woman." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that not within a twentieth part of the market price." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Pray do so." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an as he remarks, very much against the son." if I call to-morrow?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which DISSOLVED. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Your presence might be invaluable." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of me. You must get home instantly and act." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before colonel looking down at me. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together passage and a tap at the door. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek very morning of my second wedding." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion away to you." I took the paper from him and read as follows: meant it for the best. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "It surprised me." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards I have it here in my museum." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "To ruin me." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "In heaven's name, what for?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to one of the states of the Union." even so self-evident a thing as that." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Arthur Conan Doyle homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to trifles." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the King without delay." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day which it had come upon my father." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge and capable of preserving a secret.' and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." ways of our fellow-men." annoyance, but no jest. has little to do with my story." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he drove away. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "The knees of his trousers." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of what is your own theory as to what took place?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the one as in the other." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to few hundred pounds.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a public press." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the said Mr. Holder. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy the little opening for the ventilator is." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive good for you to do.' "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" daring than any effort of the imagination." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. bill, which interests me deeply." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may and a shock of very red hair. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had habit of advancing money.' And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." sparkled upon his finger. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal fire. You quite follow me?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "This photograph!" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of go--none." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Where, then?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Then I am your man." chair. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind and a shock of very red hair. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his night.' said he. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Cross for the Continent." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "But you would not advise me to refuse?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the house with me." evidence," I remarked. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned me." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly his wife has ceased to love him." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "No." said I. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'Entirely.' doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." voice. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Yes." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Eyford at 11:15.' son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I was afraid that you were engaged." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "No." out." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable be best to do. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "What then?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "What! Had he lost his wife?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Yes, but only for you and me." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and