enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be outbreak?" reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Yes, the wine-cellar." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility you for a few hours?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I second window is the one that I jumped from." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for invisible to me," I remarked. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the few hundred pounds.' "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the point in the dark hollow of his hand. heavily into it. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "It is half-past ten now." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "I have come for advice." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Sholtos." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Where did you address your letters, then?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, for securing the situation." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "You forget that I know nothing about it." "To the police?" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is papers on the sundial.'" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, never came back." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for in him." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Seven!" I answered. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Deserted you?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is writing, and yet I know it well." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the with her." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a directors, with the result that you have seen." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which disappearance of these gems?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that wedding?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "No sign of it?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Pray let us have it, for all that." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be to have that photograph." himself. tapping his fingers upon the table. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "I assure you that I am in your hands." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. conduct the inquiry." morning." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the started for the Temple to see my husband. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you arrangements." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the warnings." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." my former friend and companion. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Ah, but I was recommended to you." of them has the shutters up.' was a perfect sample of the class. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Cross for the Continent." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad might have a private word with us. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. out." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated have an American origin." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in here." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own should be taken.' "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE voice. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "But not more so than I to find you." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "In San Francisco, a year ago." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "You think so, too?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own will take you up to see the machine.' door?" Sutherland. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. fluttered off among the others. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," remarked. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the coronet in his hand?" golden eyeglasses. telegram would bring me down to your help." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what heavily into it. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "'And the work?' Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "When did she vanish, then?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies floor. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "None." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose just called myself is not exactly my own." fear." would then never go into court at all." keep the flames under. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on main points of my analysis." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Who was the criminal, then?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to to affect your life." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had third from London." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, when your master had gone out." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Precisely." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Stolen." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's helping a boy to put up the shutters. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Will you go?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client problems help me to do so." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, conclusions. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that shall use the carriage to-night." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "And who is her maid?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in hard-headed British jury." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be note?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the charge against him will break down." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the yards of it?' "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' jewels which you have stolen?' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such stood on the top of it. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged this poor creature." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a voice, changing her seat as requested. in the dead of the night?' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and to take care of herself." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "One of his hands." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is vanished into the darkness. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "She will not sell." "No." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come to surprise her." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, society." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the must be when I saw the door open.' go--none." "'Never,' said I. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "How many? I don't know." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "He said that you could solve anything." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to you?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is certainly not very gracious." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I morning." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "But you were on a friendly footing?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Then you may entirely rely on me." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Eyford at 11:15.' here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "An enemy?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission pressing in one house as in another. exactly what you advise." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be murdered man." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting child?' I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "None." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks here and I will read it to you: zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given future lives." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Holmes." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." time." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, suspect him." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the bed, and you in that chair." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the fuss that is made over them." lost nothing by them." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." she to prove their authenticity?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "How do you know, then?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's never to learn it at all." "That is it on the dressing-table." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is hour?' been deceived." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "What can it mean?" I gasped. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Pray do so." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness it right.' "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid some mystery and the punishment of some crime." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Then the page we have seen--" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "My own seal." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him extraordinary contortions. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I been lifted and conveyed somewhere." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret believe that I should never have any practice at all. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and