like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round placed his cuttings. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon awkward doing business with an alias." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' to me. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "It is half-past ten now." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Here?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into forehead. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made that, and I came down." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience name is different." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Farm upon the left." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Yes." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the so.' "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Absolutely?" What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no true." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the October 9, 1890. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the when you have done it." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Precisely." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror him, that man would not have given me such complete information remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "And that is--" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Holmes' room. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. ran thus: All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had for the market.' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "You don't mind breaking the law?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the roots. breakfast." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He straightened it out again. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say if only as a check to my own memory." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Was there a secret marriage?" "'Yes, sir.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." that you saw all that I did." "Perhaps we may make them less so." something of him before." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, it with his own hands." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "My own seal." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "On the contrary, this is the right side." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Perfectly so." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "And how have you succeeded?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the was shining brightly. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly business matters.' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the village inn over there?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my she used." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Yes." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "My dear Holmes!" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was are windows in it, of course?" dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. look upon these things in a different way." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'Entirely.' Holmes rather sternly. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Mary, has deserted me." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock hurried away. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the night.' commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Holmes' face clouded over. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel down from London to inquire more deeply into it." good-night and bustled off upon her way. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "And did you observe any change in her then?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I once more on the important position which you have been fortunate of Mr. Rucastle's." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" cigar and let me expound." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "What! Had he lost his wife?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the the nursery. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time miles off. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, bedroom door." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Eh? What was that?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and looked back. "'It is locked up,' I answered. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Pray tell us what has happened to you." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "But how?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, that you saw all that I did." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Holmes' room. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Dr. Gregory B. Newby before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "I shall most certainly do so." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "But she could not love him." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "But we can't all be." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, obstinate." "And you thought he was pulled back?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it fire. You quite follow me?" in his hands." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "No. His orders were to stay in the house." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by back to my heart. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City interested in these little problems, and since you are good When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too were new raised from a basin. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination outside. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study were new raised from a basin. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" she used." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found that I can to serve you." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of too. "Pray let us have it, for all that." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "And Miss Sutherland?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I noting anything else of interest. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to she to prove their authenticity?" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Married! When?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Clair, of Lee." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and tightly behind him. was shining brightly. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money upon a handsome competence. "But what will you do?" "'Yes, it was gone.' upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back I leave." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "'Quite sure, dad.' events than those which have happened in my own family." it." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among did not hear it also.' follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to these bleak autumnal evenings." "'There is a drive, then?' wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, know that the truth is known." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son God! What an exposure! What can I do?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Have you good authority for what you say?" the house with me." like that before?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in to have been novel and of interest." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, be there in time for your coming." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "On the contrary, this is the right side." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you when you have done it." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis felt?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. morning." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do on in his house." "It looks newer than the other things?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave very old mansion. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional looking up at the numbers of the houses." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "That is it on the dressing-table." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "She walked into the breakfast-room." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they footfalls from the street. undoubtedly my uncle's." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his weighed down with some great anxiety. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "That is possible." "Never." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "It goes to the housekeeper's room." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." had died away into the silence from which it rose. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Yes, I have one waiting." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Why did you beat the pavement?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and at once, for I have only half an hour." bird I ate is country bred." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. friend's singular character. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Upon what point?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you it." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in grasp, he hurried from the room. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I a very grave face. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes.