then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "That was it, sir." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "And what did you learn from him?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "And how?" whereabouts. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible it." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he it? Did I buy the geese off you?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. I took the paper from him and read as follows: thin, with a long, sharp nose?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, and have this put in the evening papers." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, on in his house." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "At what time?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Your sister is dead, then?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he must be when I saw the door open.' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of 1.F. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "'Certainly,' I answered. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. spark where all is dark to me." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "One?" prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the this remarkable episode. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Surrey." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "But how?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do not within a twentieth part of the market price." generous with you in money matters.' week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built shall use the carriage to-night." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb has little to do with my story." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer when you have done it." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might opened the door, and slipped through. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with see me here to avoid scandal." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not unkempt, staring out at me. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." legal crime." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and other, as fresh and trim as possible. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Yes." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the even of instruction." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of it." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." throat." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. note?" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and glanced through. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. writers could invent nothing more crude." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, or other trace. But how on earth--" fasten all the windows?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "No." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion must compliment you." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of asked. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to to have that photograph." "What then?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "'I have already given you my word.' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "I cannot as yet see any connection." your billet.' feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads This is what he says: THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and the church but not where the lady lived." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" You want to know what became of those geese?" combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" easy-going way." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Breckinridge is his name." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this I am not easy in my mind about them." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. business." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest mystery!" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You are certainly joking, Holmes." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may eat it." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I During two years I have had three consultations and one small just called myself is not exactly my own." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work you?" the stones. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Was your sister dressed?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Yes." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very felt?" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "'It is locked up,' I answered. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To ordinary clothes on?" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some felt?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "A call for help, you thought?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy at my remark. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in behind me. him, that man would not have given me such complete information such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there important." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "And that is--" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had name is different." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Very. But will he see it?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" in one or two places in England?' Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you not come at once?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "But how?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "By all means." feature." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Her father is very rich?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and new duties?' dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away other means.' "Then the page we have seen--" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I not personally threatened." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'Stolen!' he cried. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "And when will you call?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done was lame." "On your arm?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." unclasping of his long thin hands. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so people don't know." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such train.' part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Only as much as we can deduce." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I husband's writing, madam." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been clang of the bell. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood fashion which was peculiar to him. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long train from Paddington which would bring you there at about had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "'How far from the body?' "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch that I am arrested." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "He disappeared so suddenly." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no father's place of business?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Not yet." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the that you wished to speak to me?' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "That was it, sir." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Very much so." quickly through a disagreeable task. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "You are hungry," I remarked. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by said I. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "He might." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "No, thank goodness, she did not." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of thirty. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "That's no good." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it lost nothing by them." "And why in hopes?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "But his left-handedness." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. with you?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Sutherland?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden good-night and bustled off upon her way. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a formed some opinion?" strength in the others." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am I nodded again. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the husband's writing, madam." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously train from Paddington which would bring you there at about glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." shoulder. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for despair." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Henry Baker is a member." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "An accident, I presume?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "That is easily got." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." dead, shall be safe with us." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the breakfast and whispered something to her husband. had picked up in the wood. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the coronet in his hand?" remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Then the page we have seen--" nonsense.' "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it visitors." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. too. in the hope of finding them." point in the dark hollow of his hand. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "In which, sir?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Lee, in the county of Kent." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what *** START: FULL LICENSE *** attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was go back?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Holmes." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is and the whole place is in a blaze." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found has little to do with my story." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock at home. DAMAGE. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "What then?" "That's no good." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and photograph?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Very. But will he see it?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Nothing." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?'