places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. address. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our not, dad?" she asked. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the running down." go--none." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the so-precious time, but come!' "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "But of what society?" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was asked with his eyes open. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell results." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton you." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy footfalls from the street. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question better in every way that they should make their position a little "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Yes." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the that chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose rat could hardly pass through." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." to miss it." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "And I say east," said my patient. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as whereabouts. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly disturbance in my wife." in one or two places in England?' "Certainly, madam." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in voice, changing her seat as requested. his huge brown hands. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the will take you up to see the machine.' more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel are windows in it, of course?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my brandy and water within his reach. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "You have it, sir, just as it happened." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' such person." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed been." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, back to my heart. "A call for help, you thought?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a companion. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Yesterday." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "You have compromised yourself seriously." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Your presence might be invaluable." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Then how many are there?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "And how did you find out?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't once more. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "'And what salary do you ask?' "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how became a certainty. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from with the outside air!" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose formed some opinion?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "But how?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Murdered?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Will you go?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the throat." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. confronted him. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "One?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I mystery!" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune served to weaken the effect. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing are, I think, all that we need." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "There is the writing." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is desk. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." a room. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up ceremony." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the of it with the greatest attention. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, your own bird, so if you wish--" Stoke Moran." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? way in everything. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "I have hopes." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped arrangements." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." said he. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Sholtos." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I will try. What is it?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the your co-operation." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I answered that I had not. one of them." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that you do it in twenty minutes!' that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Eyford at 11:15.' on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried shall use the carriage to-night." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the drove away. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "A greater distance to travel." "No legal papers or certificates?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her coroner's jury." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having seem to you to be relevant or not." his fortune, and I went back to pa. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his all-comprehensive glances. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place upon the sideboard." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her pictures, libraries, or plate. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and capable of preserving a secret.' which we had just quitted. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside people in all walks of life. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest upon the white wrist. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "How about poison?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "In which, sir?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the salesman. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" or other trace. But how on earth--" back to my heart. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Sutherland. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until You want to know what became of those geese?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was with her." "Texas, I think." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he I think that I could be of assistance to you." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of second window is the one that I jumped from." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first DISSOLVED. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our gone. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter tied." "Yes." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "I am in hopes that she does." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps photograph?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves through." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "And the murderer?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all get the tickets." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and habit of advancing money.' 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "One of his hands." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul when your master had gone out." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'What are you doing there?' he asked. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can was it brought him the coronet? that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "It missed him, then?" gives a meaning to it." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch mystery." "So it appears." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." a very grave face. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "He is dead," cried several voices. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Arthur Conan Doyle tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office points in connection with it which never have been, and probably place of silver." straighten it?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "In the cells." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." closely." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed him to be an active member of the medical profession." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. been deceived." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a I approached. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as matter." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark friends, not even his own brother. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I felt the room to be a little close.' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous enter into my head. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Again Holmes raved in the air. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I know where it is." speckled band?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My direction." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return You can understand that this register and diary may implicate does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Yes." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Certainly." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "It missed him, then?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered that, and I came down." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid you in your example." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton to-night." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently,