shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' standing smiling on the door-step. bled considerably." directors, with the result that you have seen." appeal." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about breakfast and whispered something to her husband. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "'About the same.' "But she could not love him." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, lamp. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "What have you to say now?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Why, what do you mean?" "It is very kind of you." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He will take you up to see the machine.' you." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped correct than the official force." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the reach." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Then you may be so with me." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "10th. John Swain cleared. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "I have seen the police." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Where did you address your letters, then?" that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." noble correspondent could be. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "I am in hopes that she does." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to at a side door. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have your most interesting statement." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the house with me." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "I think it very unlikely." Clair, of Lee." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Well, some hundreds of times." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland address. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "But what harm can there be in that?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to not within a twentieth part of the market price." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that I took the paper from him and read as follows: "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be works. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, It may be so in this case, also." tightly behind him. "It is a murder, then?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Yes, I have one waiting." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. this Miss Turner." married her." cheerful." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good evidence," I remarked. prison!" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: character. "9th. McCauley cleared. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable individual and becomes the badge of a society." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, imbecility!" he cried. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I should wish to." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Tired-looking or fresh?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can voice, changing her seat as requested. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Then, as to money?" answer." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and about. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own heavy and sharp instrument." have been better. It is all right." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the colonel looking down at me. will take you up to see the machine.' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I furiously. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no like gravel from a pit.' chair. "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite jewels which you have stolen?' of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this populous neighbourhood." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A again." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. appeal." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "But how could you guess what the motive was?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and remarked. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a roused himself from his reverie. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a there when the Rucastles went away." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Thank you. Pray proceed." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there the coronet in his hands?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of Fenchurch Street." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated despair." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Entirely." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is electronic works return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was reach." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter system of imprisonment?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Again Holmes raved in the air. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, in this way: mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "But I am all in the dark." woven round him. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce my room." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Sutherland?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to himself. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well his face which made him a very different person to the round, weighed down with some great anxiety. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they so far?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately business at Coburg Square is serious." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this that before taking the final step I should like to submit the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "And now?" He raised his hand. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I was certainly surprised to find you there." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in intrusion of other matters." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was any." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that to affect your life." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Was the window open?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many business?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." in my life." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" companion. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was within hail.' "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no taking in every detail of the apartment. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "An accident, I presume?" there was no need for father to know." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It trying to your nerves." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between down from London to inquire more deeply into it." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had visitors." bled considerably." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "So I heard. You have him here?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Nothing?" which we had just quitted. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may to tell." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Ah!" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily there has been an enclosure here!" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that washing it down with a long draught of water. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which yourselves in at night?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those is entirely a question of barometric pressure." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "I say it is." "Absolutely none." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong tightly behind him. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his companion. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call pictures, libraries, or plate. the nursery. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend like that before?" son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would and files of the old papers, following the future career of every followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I flock.' twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable events than those which have happened in my own family." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital held up the lantern and gazed about him. tied." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons particular state visit http://pglaf.org lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Certainly." "'Is purely nominal.' habit of advancing money.' foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers whereabouts. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Look there!" said he. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "It is true that I have been generally successful." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your breakfast?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, not within a twentieth part of the market price." is a common subject for conversation. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let character. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only have one." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Well?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "But what is it you wish?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during