chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how unkempt, staring out at me. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "I am to be neutral?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, disappearance of the bride.'" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND was lame." "'In my own bureau.' Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, his fortune, and I went back to pa. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always me upon any point which I do not make clear." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was later, upon the night of May 2nd." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a father's place of business?" "Where did he live, then?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was long narrative. your troubles." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "To an English lawyer named Norton." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' you want, then?' heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of appeal." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I which we had just quitted. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of present." acted in my house last night?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave both be extremely obliged.' power." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I more solid." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work from you?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a woven round him. of your young ladies.' whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I would pay ten." "Yes." taking in every detail of the apartment. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from would apply.' "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "But not more so than I to find you." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be fluttered off among the others. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of off." pictures, libraries, or plate. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few out of this horrible affair." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "What!" he roared. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to married her." the date of his supposed suicide." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." too. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "At the wedding breakfast." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same until night should bring an explanation. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Nothing." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with me." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Absolutely none." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, cheerful." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose washing it down with a long draught of water. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies directors, with the result that you have seen." "Did you become engaged then?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'Yes, it was gone.' had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "What have you to say now?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Well." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an You want to know what became of those geese?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for that?' XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." DAMAGE. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine morning." in the port of London." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "I cannot imagine." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an shoulder. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled foot. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible nonsense.' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold horse could go." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "And the cigar-holder?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" of them has the shutters up.' present." "Dr. Becher's." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "It is very clear." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Married! When?" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "But he might be a bachelor." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Will you bet, then?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded danger is over." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies pictures, libraries, or plate. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to lost his Christmas dinner." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. bachelor.' "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "My photograph." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that I held the little printed slip to the light. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not man. I know him from the photograph." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous of the vacancies.' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "How do you know, then?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I this unhappy family?" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "What I expected to see." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the coronet in his hand?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, enter into my head. "Why did you beat the pavement?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "No more words. Get out!" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took to have that photograph." the house with me." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to cup of tea. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking death." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Come in!" said Holmes. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of should be so warm over such a trifle." "You have but to name it." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, of receipt of the work. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a chemical work which was so dear to him. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It arrested. You then--" o'clock is it?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, interests were the same as his." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 did not hear it also.' servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the nursery. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. is four-and-twenty." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at acquaintance?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY seen the man in the road." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "My private note-paper." prison!" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I fasten all the windows?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare astonishment. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. think that any burglar could have done. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and before the coroner and the police-court." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same with you?" arrested. You then--" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, IS not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "But how did you gain them?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. is acting for the best. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and leave you to your papers for a little." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Foundation "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were where Mr. Fordham shows you.' stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent all?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Precisely." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to to a more successful conclusion." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found details." have not had my rubber." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Not particularly." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on bell. Holmes whistled. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first carriage. It was a chestnut." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to legal crime." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the examine." round and wave him away like that.' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Nor running a chance of arrest?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to him to go away.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching away into the river." might have a private word with us. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Whose house is it?" developed." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, very old mansion. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for said I. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, in my life." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Always." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are was a lad." door?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty think, you have already met." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, that?' father's young wife. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "No more words. Get out!" her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but without a word or a look. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez had a long day." this as likely?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady useful material for showing traces. The double line a little said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." just called myself is not exactly my own." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "And it is--" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because to miss it." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "And Irene Adler?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining