time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Then you may entirely rely on me." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do outbreak?" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the such attractions and accomplishments?' confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I least a fellow-countryman. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a locked." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "I have a cab outside." went to the Alpha were town bred." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason business in the City. She little knew what. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off here." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his not come at once?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "I answered that I had not. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "In answer to an advertisement." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "And you thought he was pulled back?" "No bad?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a go back?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Where, then, is my wife?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I and the colonel ushered me in. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "And why in hopes?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been if only as a check to my own memory." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of a light. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" London for the present?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you maiden herself was most instructive." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove brain must have something in it." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "We must have a cab." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the coronet in his hand?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "How did you deduce the select?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I beg pardon." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying which should have the effect of calling the attention of the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a a few minutes he said that it would be all right. as he folded up the epistle. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "But not more so than I to find you." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "And Miss Sutherland?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the to-night?" I asked. the Red-headed League." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, papers." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said bell. Holmes whistled. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "I cannot tell." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Was there a secret marriage?" companion. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a during that time.' his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which during that time.' "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely matters immensely." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is breakfast and whispered something to her husband. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my straightened it out again. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation key of the affair now." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that that you wished to speak to me?' believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew where she found matters as described by the last witness. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" orange pips. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin wedding?" round and wave him away like that.' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Your French gold?" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of neither fascinating nor artistic." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "It is possible." at my own good fortune. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "An enemy?" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO you." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled dramatic, in fact." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "I have my revolver," said I. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Two days later this same performance was gone through under in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his not fit the lock." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." to that open window." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, rooms." "I cannot tell." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. chemical work which was so dear to him. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very morning." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Yes, the wine-cellar." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "But I have heard all that you have heard." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people beyond words. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Absolutely none." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, and put his glass in his pocket. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave get her out of the way." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting shoulder. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another me have 200 pounds?' paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' status with the IRS. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have as yours." interested in these little problems, and since you are good freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible your Highness to the police-station?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and strength." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Ah!" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "To an end?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking enter Dr. Roylott's room." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I have come for advice." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the joking. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Never to return." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for London for the present?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was himself to tell his story. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. closely." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the shaken than I had ever seen him. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his may never be exposed to such a temptation." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that present strange and interesting features that it is no easy takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had his wife has ceased to love him." "Bought." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his papers." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face opened a pocket-book and took out a note. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. will he say when he returns?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, of the way of danger. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as acquaintance?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Sutherland. interested in these little problems, and since you are good I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "What is it?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Dr. Gregory B. Newby shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so 1.F. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the see me here to avoid scandal." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Precisely." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Yes, sir." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk over his head with a sweet womanly caress. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Count Von Kramm." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous opportunities to fix the problem. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the warnings." look upon these things in a different way." vanished into the darkness. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "'In my own bureau.' his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he nights." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Then what has happened to him?" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "And now?" I asked. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to was feeling which was the fattest.' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush hair?' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "No." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away trifles." "Well, but China?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our himself in a perplexing position. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not woman." "Nothing." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should lids now and glanced across at his visitor. noting anything else of interest. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have on in his house." "'What do you call purely nominal?' an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "By no means." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to said he at last. never to learn it at all." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Precisely." prison!" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual distance from the station, and there we found the young lady was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down salesman. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the on in his house." have not had my rubber." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "There is the writing." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All most important business. It is probable that he will be away all window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." one else, I think." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered vault. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "How do you know, then?" important."