and the church but not where the lady lived." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to might have a private word with us. next day. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I matter." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a to affect your life." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce you." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" had picked up in the wood. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and roused himself from his reverie. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and had died away into the silence from which it rose. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I should like to see him very much." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'Yes, sir.' fled together." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old my former friend and companion. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to had died away into the silence from which it rose. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my was it brought him the coronet? "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Always." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'Then let me do so?' several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the of Fenchurch Street." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "In the cells." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of six. Come in!" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any house for five minutes.' is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Perhaps we may make them less so." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "What are they?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to whatever might befall. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady again on its way. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. taking in every detail of the apartment. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so she to prove their authenticity?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Where, indeed?" "That's no good." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly fattened it expressly for you.' the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Could he throw no light?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, throat." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only asked with his eyes open. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the easy-going way." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one families. Now for the facts. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. morning." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in already referred to. my little problems." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the best of training." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours secret." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were this poor creature." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. gone. roused himself from his reverie. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of name is different." "He disappeared so suddenly." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a to tackle the facts." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of was used.' opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time unclasping of his long thin hands. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "And the murderer?" "Then, how do you know?" "Her father is very rich?" burst out into a roar of laughter. Street. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Of Friday, June 19th." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of to tell." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "And Miss Sutherland?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony she used." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Yes." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said official police." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. there was no need for father to know." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, get her out of the way." footfalls from the street. "When did it break out?" leaning back in his chair. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and then?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been and files of the old papers, following the future career of every he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Which are?" "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was never to learn it at all." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the too. thirty. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "How do you know, then?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and during which he might have communicated with his friend the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "What have you done?" asked Holmes. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "I am armed." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it read it out to me." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Well, some hundreds of times." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. License. You must require such a user to return or "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and secret." "Yes." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried that he has suffered." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching there has been an enclosure here!" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. himself. "I see no marks." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do not fit the lock." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What secret." to talk it over. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your dear old homesteads?" October 9, 1890. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." pound a week." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide carried out of court." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. noble correspondent could be. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "I will, Miss Turner." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in words came to my lips. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which straightened it out again. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "'Yes, sir.' to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I dear old homesteads?" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the running down." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in What do you deduce from it?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without long narrative. "Yes." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "If I can be of use." "But you were on a friendly footing?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I delighted to hear it," he said. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one me have 200 pounds?' door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per keep the flames under. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "By no means." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always back alive. through." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "You know me, then?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed forebodings. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But said he. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "When did she vanish, then?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. What do you deduce from it?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive what do you think they found in the pockets?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Nearly eleven." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable woman." "An accident, I presume?" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "I am in hopes that she does." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Will you go?" it." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." he died? "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a bears upon the case?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church points to suicide?" like that before?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at when you have done it." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from is entirely a question of barometric pressure." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed chance." "And why?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "I am following you closely," I answered. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed any little problem which you may submit to me." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. your sleep?' "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Foundation Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "And the cigar-holder?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "But his left-handedness." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand exactly what you advise." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our generous with you in money matters.' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he your own bird, so if you wish--" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he use an arc-and-compass breastpin." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "You have but to name it." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, companion quietly. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Did he not advertise?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may some terrible trap for her." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be a little more before I quite committed myself. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'And the work?' opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly that he will be back before evening." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "You heard nothing yourself last night?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the coronet at all injured?" heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" careless servant girl?"