"I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had fashion which was peculiar to him. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Upon what point?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "And why?" predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Never." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Yes, they were peculiar boots." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say in his hands." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Witness: Nothing definite. "'Yes, sir.' were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Yes, it was twisted." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune this unhappy family?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will McCarthy's innocence. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "It is a murder, then?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Her father is very rich?" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. this Miss Turner." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Yes." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for before, for it was considerably after midnight. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "That is also quite modern," said the lady. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Certainly, madam." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor in the dead of the night?' "Yes." it right.' "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I was mad--insane." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "But your client--" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat gigantic client. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "But what is it you wish?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a how narrow had been my escape. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, this unhappy family?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, careless servant girl?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not been able to understand it, in a very few words. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet face and glided from the room. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to carried out of court." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Yes, it would be as well." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'Where could I find him?' another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, his eyes and forehead. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest chamber." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Have you her photograph?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous this as likely?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a noble correspondent could be. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one important." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that me. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Was there a secret marriage?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "And did you observe any change in her then?" as he remarks, very much against the son." "My photograph." strength." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was better in every way that they should make their position a little dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small shoulder; "he's all right." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Where did he live, then?" developed." handed it to him. developed." "I assure you that I am in your hands." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. whereabouts. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "It is his hat." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having standing smiling on the door-step. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given plantation.' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no get her out of the way." what I may call a really hard day's work." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "'And the work?' indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my words came to my lips. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "That was it, sir." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Then I do not see the point." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "To an end?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in outbreak?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for IS of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do that I am arrested." may have an influence upon European history." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was unprecedented a position." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." cup of tea. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," you in yours." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "'Never,' said I. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of place of silver." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "My photograph." "Seven!" I answered. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. crowd. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Of Friday, June 19th." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more and the colonel ushered me in. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "But it has twice been burgled." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out she might be summoned. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair a few minutes he said that it would be all right. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "This photograph!" noting anything else of interest. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. were new raised from a basin. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Leadenhall Street--and--" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. out." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave upon the shelf for the interim." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one envelope. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'Then let me do so?' on re-entering her father's house?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman down. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Where is it, then?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from stepfather?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you came in." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Sholtos." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual him and tried to hold him back. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to to a more successful conclusion." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call I have it here in my museum." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the them?" fluttered off among the others. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "We were both in the photograph." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "I will, Miss Turner." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most The events in question occurred in the early days of my Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "VIOLET HUNTER." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal jewels which you have stolen?' about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "On the contrary, this is the right side." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. if she died from some sudden fright." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless been with you?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Is purely nominal.' "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "She showed me, as I told you she would." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "'There is a drive, then?' course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "But what is it you wish?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated instincts rose up against that laugh. "I do." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon You want to know what became of those geese?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards go back?" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. where she found matters as described by the last witness. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "It is solved." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Can I be of assistance?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, have accepted such a situation. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Can I be of assistance?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his my special province." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an vanished into the darkness. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "I don't say that. Perhaps." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which his huge brown hands. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his address. future lives." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life wanted for ourselves." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police quite distinctive." to have that photograph." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, over here." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the did not hear it also.' Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday more solid." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend criminal. We have already had experience of such." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through during the last few years, and there are many noble families to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Never to return." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "It is a murder, then?" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water figure." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful fled together." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "And how did you find out?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 nothing of it?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "How long did she speak to this Alice?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "What have you done?" asked Holmes. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it foot. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Holmes' face clouded over. had a long day." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was golden eyeglasses. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching appeared upon the scene." "This photograph!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured