English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were putting in the horse. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that shadow pass over his face as I spoke. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the will not take me long to tell. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken place of silver." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the happened." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the awkward doing business with an alias." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but father's place of business?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Doctor, of the paper and the date." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "That is also quite modern," said the lady. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "What do you mean?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. populous neighbourhood." true." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which bears upon the case?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "That you are never beaten." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more the house with me." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and when your master had gone out." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "How did he come?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. to some other building. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Yes." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in seem to you to be relevant or not." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of third from London." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not as yours." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing to you." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "That is unusual in a young girl." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address not, dad?" she asked. meant it for the best. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Did he not advertise?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp appeared upon the scene." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no some mystery and the punishment of some crime." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was morning." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "No, distinctly professional." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." cigars in the box." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "My stepfather's business papers." look upon these things in a different way." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case power." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My you." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I have come for advice." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I I shall continue with my miserable story. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were ceremony." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a III. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to out." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said himself in a perplexing position. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Can I be of assistance?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Pray do so." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it for the market.' "But your client--" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our good for you to do.' of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in woman who has had her own way to make in the world. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Dr. Becher's." stood on the top of it. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Now, then, what's the last entry?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and peculiar to him. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the coroner come to?" your sleep?' is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY the nursery. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us as he folded up the epistle. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of instincts rose up against that laugh. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "What then?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then felt?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Where, indeed?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring may have an influence upon European history." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "In answer to an advertisement." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but congenial hunt. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to you." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from outsides of the windows. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "But you have hopes?" out of this horrible affair." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the side-table." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, there is a decided draught." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "My dear Holmes!" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain system of imprisonment?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover hurried away. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "I assure you that I am in your hands." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an hand, madam?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "None." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" retorted upon me, and I on you." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "He disappeared so suddenly." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where kindly on the shoulder. depend upon my doing so.' without a word or a look. "Won't it ring?" broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "A confidential servant?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his letters?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Do you know him?" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "'Ample.' circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "But you would not advise me to refuse?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon disappearance of these gems?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back served to weaken the effect. power." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Do you know him?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as to-morrow." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the child." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I should wish to." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, hurried away. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I carried out of court." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "I don't say that. Perhaps." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Of what?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project touch that coronet?' princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before it. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Only as much as we can deduce." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the the stable lane now." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest green of the new foliage. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" all?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of the south-west, I see." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my future lives." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Yes." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Perhaps I have." not fit the lock." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm this unhappy family?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday imbecility!" he cried. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit head. So long, then!" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of mysterious end." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is brought there to personate someone, and the real person is and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Precisely." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Oh, the cause is excellent!" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I took the paper from him and read as follows: grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two new acquaintance to Baker Street. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down dramatic, in fact." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the directly by questioning you." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the very morning of the wedding." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard