met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety before, for it was considerably after midnight. annoyance, but no jest. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Did your wife hear all this?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I will get her to show me." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting pressing in one house as in another. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Oh, the cause is excellent!" metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "No." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for one's self under obligations.' "'And what salary do you ask?' "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he down. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." absorbing." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, mysterious end." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "No more words. Get out!" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of manager. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "And I to find an enemy." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a crime." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the be there in time for your coming." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their constraint." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the devil!" "Yes." friend's singular character. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa amused." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple writer." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left said I. Holmes' room. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend kind enough to tell me what I should do." prison!" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and past. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce was feeling which was the fattest.' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their awkward doing business with an alias." wife's character?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. like that before?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a you in yours." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." I think that I could be of assistance to you." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "But the mystery?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'It is locked up,' I answered. trying to your nerves." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to of note-paper. It read in this fashion: beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Of what?" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my paper in the air. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Game for a morning drive?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, pound a week." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Gutenberg-tm License. "'Never.' news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We in his hands." gone. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "'Which dealer's?' chambers. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying heavily into it. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in them?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon point our research must commence, and we will begin it by an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was outside. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity invisible to me," I remarked. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and in the port of London." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "What will you do, then?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that seen the man in the road." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the child?' treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors his cane at the bell-pull. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "And the murderer?" "I am to be neutral?" empty. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." despair." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can reach." clang of the bell. "Yes, sir." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" as he folded up the epistle. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small strength of mind to control. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused little adventures." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the paper in the air. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." other, as fresh and trim as possible. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the drove away. with you?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I there!' "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Which surely he restored to their owner?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Why that?' I asks. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "No bad?" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "No, I think that I'll take it." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been DAMAGE. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "I was sure that I might rely on you." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my friend's singular character. McCarthy's innocence. "Very much so." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the trifles." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate exactly what you advise." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the true." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the child." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every have got?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Just look it up, then." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly the nursery. go back?" of his shoulders. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has kindly on the shoulder. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Yes, at the mines." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the observed. of them has the shutters up.' travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "And how did he make his money?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting of the vacancies.' business in the City. She little knew what. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. detained." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. could go. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have bedroom door." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him had this final quarrel? the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has of this gang." not as remarkable as your advertisement." "But how?" Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'What, the red-headed man?' "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Where is it, then?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their there were so many in the whole country as were brought together be.' "'It is locked up,' I answered. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as to arrive at through this?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "And what then?" home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest it right.' man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day his grey eyes. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my call the police, let the police find what they can.' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Holmes' thin, eager face. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Arthur Conan Doyle "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that with the outside air!" of the vacancies.' may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, bird I ate is country bred." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the nursery. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." himself to hunt down. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life which it had come upon my father." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a the nursery. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had less than 26s. 4d. "But the mystery?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, business at Coburg Square is serious." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "'Where to?' floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "It looks newer than the other things?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" what I may call a really hard day's work." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Pray continue your narrative." assist you in forming an opinion." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert grasp, he hurried from the room. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the character. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who,