woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "But not more so than I to find you." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Not I." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time hereditary King of Bohemia." key of the affair now." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need tell me that you intended to go into harness." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I cannot think." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all away into the river." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "'Why that?' I asks. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "I should wish to." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which that, and I came down." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property I. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, business matters.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would some mystery and the punishment of some crime." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "And it is--" know that the truth is known." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the armchair which I pushed forward for him. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped tell him that I know him to be innocent." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend tension within him. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied man. "Yes, it would be as well." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I fear." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "No." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Eh? What was that?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very status with the IRS. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this is acting for the best. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no examination of the premises, but without finding anything which her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were me. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. a very grave face. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents from you?" Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination we went to search for him, face downward in a little "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "And for present expenses?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was arrested. You then--" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If you for a few hours?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just business came to an end." showing my impatience. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious a good hundred miles off by now." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them papers diligently of late, have you not?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't what is your own theory as to what took place?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Yes, certainly." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I was sure that I might rely on you." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. should be so warm over such a trifle." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them during the last few years, and there are many noble families to unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "So I have heard." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so some place of shelter and let the county police know what has transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, his grey eyes. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a chemical work which was so dear to him. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in shall use the carriage to-night." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present depend upon my doing so.' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "I cannot tell." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Married! When?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival my special province." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "You think that he is dead?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "You think so, too?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main where we are going." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised presume?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not green of the new foliage. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which anything to do with the matter?" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is that you wished to speak to me?' "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "It's nothing of the kind." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the nursery. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two closing the door. "Imitated." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are with you?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Pray do so." upon the white wrist. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "The Cedars?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. introspective fashion. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous there is a decided draught." "Witness: Nothing definite. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute she might be summoned. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. the warnings." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the general public were present, then?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. other lovers by making love himself." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work in the hope of finding them." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Eyford." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning union?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." garden below. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." standing smiling on the door-step. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "He might." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Heh?' are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project as he folded up the epistle. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "10th. John Swain cleared. writing, and yet I know it well." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded disturbance in my wife." never will be, entirely cleared up. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a DAMAGE. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Ten will be early enough." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "This photograph!" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by you." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "No." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is there has been an enclosure here!" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and in a friendly supper." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Why, it's a dummy," said he. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing there was no need for father to know." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A south, for the country is more deserted there." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the trifles." works. See paragraph 1.E below. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to had picked up in the wood. "In which, sir?" certainly not very gracious." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "To the police?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded What do you deduce from it?" the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we room had already been engaged for us. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done into the bag, and made for the door. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known on in his house." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the discontent upon his features. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I am all attention, madam." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She hard-headed British jury." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The fashion which was peculiar to him. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his villagers almost as much as their master. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I don't say that. Perhaps." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon danger is over." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an way in everything. bell. Holmes whistled. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend you want, then?' Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a tension within him. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. business matters.' questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "But you were on a friendly footing?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Perhaps I have." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. outside. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "You will not go there first?" "That was it, sir." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her and shall probably return to London by the evening train." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said dramatic, in fact." way in." Does that suggest anything?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it means taking possession of that which another person has a prior done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she observed. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have yet." "Yes." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over said he. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "It was an hour's good drive." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. not fit the lock." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "The rest you will leave in our hands." garden below. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical words came to my lips. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or very old mansion. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the nursery. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Bought." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly not within a twentieth part of the market price." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "'Most admirably.' ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do go--none." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner that threaten you." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Farm upon the left." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to obstinate." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the