"'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. with you?" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered distance from the station, and there we found the young lady There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and even of instruction." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked there!' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very enter Dr. Roylott's room." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where to arrive at through this?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Well, some hundreds of times." "My stepfather's business papers." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young so far?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, reach." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, becomes even more simple." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Holmes rather sternly. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few and the church but not where the lady lived." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The John Swain, of St. Augustine. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at must compliment you." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be with frightened eyes at his accuser. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in keep the flames under. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Was he the only applicant?" this remarkable episode. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little you." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall think you a quite exceptional woman." "Pray continue your narrative." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'It is locked up,' I answered. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's results." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more to-night?' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose child?' of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went mystery." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." the nursery. as the one I chose?' country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "One of his hands." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Never to return." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of have accepted such a situation. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all criminal. We have already had experience of such." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building lids now and glanced across at his visitor. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Very well, sir. And this stone?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to I. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "No." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "The doctor?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall writers could invent nothing more crude." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet from you?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "May I see it?" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news nonsense.' explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. one of them." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant most interesting one." about here speaks of his kindness to him." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for enter into my head. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "No good news?" "At what time?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should peculiar to him. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such mystery!" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square writing, and yet I know it well." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Were they all fastened this morning?" train.' as noiselessly as she had come. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit generous with you in money matters.' conceal it?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "You horrify me!" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was was feeling which was the fattest.' wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The sentimental considerations in the background which would induce At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I think that it is very probable." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was The King stared at him in amazement. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if McCarthy." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'A dozen yards or so.' burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, During two years I have had three consultations and one small "'Tell me all about it,' said I. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before and the whole place is in a blaze." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not cigars in the box." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I am still in the dark." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Leave Paddington by the 11:15." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which to take care of herself." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Very good.' indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I definite end. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save companion. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would enter into my head. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "A client, then?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "You have a clue?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "And I say east," said my patient. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He drove away. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'Ten to two.' appointment with me for six o'clock?" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "'I have heard so.' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in ways including including checks, online payments and credit card cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to which are rolled in Rotterdam." neither fascinating nor artistic." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of lost nothing by them." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I guessed as much." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, digesting their breakfasts at home." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he and effective." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else returning from some small jollification and was making his way the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get here." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining ran thus: "I am following you closely," I answered. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "I promise," said Holmes. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Yes." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. look dissatisfied." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from shall use the carriage to-night." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "I am sure." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read bedroom door." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Where to?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Who by?" attention." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "There is the writing." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "That is unusual in a young girl." "'Certainly not.' like gravel from a pit.' volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "One of his hands." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "We must have a cab." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, nonsense.' inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Leadenhall Street--and--" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated situation." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, have one." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the companion imperturbably. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was your co-operation." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Yes?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he happened." "The murder was done with it." of them has the shutters up.' thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not gone. 1.F. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "When did it break out?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "And on what day did he meet his death?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps existence." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution anything to a woman, for she would have her way." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the so-precious time, but come!' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and it need not interfere very much with one's other already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "You forget that I know nothing about it." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. jewels which you have stolen?' rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so happened." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no suspect him." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little sparkled upon his finger. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and and I shall be with you presently." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought despair." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "And why?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'Not at all. I only doubt--' to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Have you her photograph?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an with frightened eyes at his accuser. get her out of the way." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until