the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which what is your own theory as to what took place?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was least a fellow-countryman. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "How often?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "'Stolen!' he cried. had a long day." "Perhaps we may make them less so." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. http://gutenberg.net/license). and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate than to us. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, way in." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "None." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" it means?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "I was afraid that you were engaged." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he it. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short was lame." "By all means." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same gigantic client. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy less than 26s. 4d. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "My dear Holmes!" like gravel from a pit.' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "It is solved." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my invisible to me," I remarked. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. digesting their breakfasts at home." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had seven miles from Eyford Station.' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Have you it here?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is brain must have something in it." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, fatally injured? "A call for help, you thought?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say papers." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders gone before you can get him to hospital." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a directly by questioning you." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low had picked up in the wood. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in was lame." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Not social, then?" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Of what?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' of." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to key turn in the lock." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the as he folded up the epistle. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Now, then, what's the last entry?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given society." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "But you have hopes?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "You horrify me." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of returning from some small jollification and was making his way and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still of the vacancies.' his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, towards the blaze. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "You have compromised yourself seriously." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "He said that you could solve anything." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Yes." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their other lovers by making love himself." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage fact, we may call it conclusive." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite over here." new duties?' "But not more so than I to find you." have been better. It is all right." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for have I gained?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with friend's singular character. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the tapping his fingers upon the table. disappearance of these gems?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but followed. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush was the fact that his father should, according to his account, to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, one of them." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "He might." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time meanly of me." "The landlord of the Alpha." you." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to outside." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad to miss it." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in humiliation." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project morning." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the then?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "'Yes, sir.' rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "That is possible." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "I was sure that I might rely on you." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that suspect him." where we are going." "How did that help you?" Henry Baker is a member." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred right! Sit down and let us talk it over." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I he. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to shall not find me ungrateful." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." upon a handsome competence. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded than was visible to me." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." have I gained?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words again." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Then the page we have seen--" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of out." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in again." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "'Certainly not.' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid one which it was hard to resist. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' upon a handsome competence. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "No, my brougham is waiting." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Yes." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Have you good authority for what you say?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "That sounds a little paradoxical." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I forebodings. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I rose-bushes. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'Certainly not.' permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "'In my own bureau.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a examine." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That do you make of it all?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. gives a meaning to it." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he would then never go into court at all." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "But she will refuse." Sholtos." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. both be extremely obliged.' Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Mrs. Toller serenely. entirely lost his self-respect." "When did it break out?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the enter into my head. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a quickly through a disagreeable task. "BALLARAT." then?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the way: should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there cigar and let me expound." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "But to whom?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Yes." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "No. What a strange idea!" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. late!' run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "9th. McCauley cleared. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted she might be summoned. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the morning and make my own way in the world.' are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger do.' we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Never to return." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. must be when I saw the door open.' not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "It must be recovered." "And what then?" ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple true." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Will you go?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "I cannot imagine." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "I have hopes." "Never to return." served to weaken the effect. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which fatally injured? Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say The police have openly confessed that they can at present make God! What an exposure! What can I do?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns main points of my analysis." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Bought." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I have solved it." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge papers diligently of late, have you not?" 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for past. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "In which, sir?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Is he quiet?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that what is your own theory as to what took place?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did do." take the flies, but not before." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "An accident, I presume?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "That you are never beaten." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Chief Executive and Director stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly