peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called happened." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of place of silver." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "To ruin me." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable been." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow relation between them, and what the object of his repeated photograph?" matter." bears upon the case?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting three fields round his house, and there he would take his makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. closely." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Have you good authority for what you say?" "Game for a morning drive?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "It looks newer than the other things?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to his grey eyes. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the arrested. You then--" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "How about poison?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a you want, then?' and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again matter." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of newspaper selections." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I promise," said Holmes. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the grasp, he hurried from the room. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "That sounds a little paradoxical." get the tickets." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of was a lad." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or know all about it," he snarled. and laid it on the table. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up of the efforts of the United States government and of the better attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "My private note-paper." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out right! Sit down and let us talk it over." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Yes, that is the Crown." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night any little problem which you may submit to me." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my prove to be little relation between the different incidents of self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. as this. Pray let me have the details." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what man. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Precisely so. But how--" mystery may be cleared along those lines." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." despaired of." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Have you her photograph?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is future lives." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at very peculiar words of the dying woman?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that was feeling which was the fattest.' telegram would bring me down to your help." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I following enigmatical notices: entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors sneer upon his pale face. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an with you?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an best detective that ever lived. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves digesting their breakfasts at home." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think it with his own hands." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in you?' right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to writing, and yet I know it well." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "No, my brougham is waiting." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where best detective that ever lived. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "The Cedars?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Then you may be so with me." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "I would give my fortune to have them back." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Yes." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small gentleman's clothes. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent status with the IRS. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Then the page we have seen--" "Stoke Moran?" said he. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Absolutely none." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of ran thus: you, my dear young lady?' bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of reach." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Yes. He waved his hands." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and asked. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself following enigmatical notices: near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp to Leatherhead. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to to Leatherhead. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the golden eyeglasses. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" through." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." relief. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We meant." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "It is no ordinary one." Holmes." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Quite so. She has her freedom." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the meant." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in happened." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I awkward doing business with an alias." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you her also." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "That is not always so easy." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "And why?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." nothing with him." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the as he remarks, very much against the son." "'I shall certainly be there.' "The landlord of the Alpha." "How can you tell that?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet relation between them, and what the object of his repeated fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to The events in question occurred in the early days of my "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen there when the Rucastles went away." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have anything to a woman, for she would have her way." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET with you?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what indeed happy." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which that threaten you." "None. Neville wrote those words." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have fait accompli?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I beg pardon." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is present strange and interesting features that it is no easy in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. when your master had gone out." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "What steps will you take?" I asked. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was works. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's open." "No." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into time." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "In San Francisco, a year ago." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and memory. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "He said too much." the station." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, for the market.' departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "What is it?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort true." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well gbnewby@pglaf.org "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "'And the work?' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'And the work?' He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was main points of my analysis." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his him and tried to hold him back. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Yes, but only for you and me." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Never.' but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I cannot say that I have." bedroom door." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." soul! here is her carriage at the door." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker tell him that I know him to be innocent." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that have I gained?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See direction." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss it." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his of them has the shutters up.' Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Married! When?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the been with you?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "VIOLET HUNTER." that I can to serve you." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in not as remarkable as your advertisement." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the to a more successful conclusion." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Was there a secret marriage?" "One of his hands." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of were unconscious?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend murdered man." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need