We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we awkward doing business with an alias." behind me. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Certainly." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Nothing?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Yes, the wine-cellar." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us it. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Murdered?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she pressing in one house as in another. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds stepfather?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, hard-headed British jury." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps ceremony." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of yet." nothing of it?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son to that open window." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "But your client--" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had figure." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version outsides of the windows. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the roots. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the general public were present, then?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "The vanishing of the lady." there when the Rucastles went away." "Will you bet, then?" "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Yes?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my outbreak?" that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the been with you?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the For additional contact information: before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Certainly, madam." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is American. Then who could this American be, and why should he akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's when you have done it." "Perhaps we may make them less so." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was in his power. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child companion. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the running down." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "I cannot as yet see any connection." more terrible than the truth. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long peculiar to him. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less straighten it?" is worth.' deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of strength." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "And what did you learn from him?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Then I do not see the point." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, his cane at the bell-pull. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing neither fascinating nor artistic." DISSOLVED. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Where to?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely his grey eyes. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Where is it, then?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "When did she vanish, then?" made his money." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Certainly." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my would then never go into court at all." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Surrey." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the it." "Nearly eleven." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of residence of the great financier. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of His name is Francis Prosper." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The I think that I could be of assistance to you." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Then you may entirely rely on me." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the tension within him. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Deserted you?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should from you?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," brought there to personate someone, and the real person is power." chemical work which was so dear to him. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As will be renamed. opportunities to fix the problem. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction bill, which interests me deeply." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Mrs. Toller serenely. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Very much so." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have to miss it." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "May I see it?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Deserted you?" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We of this gang." "Deserted you?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" overpowering excitement and concern. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical because she had spent so short a time in this country that she he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss stammered. "'Most admirably.' He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. his grey eyes. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side empty. "I cannot as yet see any connection." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Your French gold?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never official police." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late will he say when he returns?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. definite end. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he undoubtedly my uncle's." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Did he not advertise?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by into her hand at the door and which lured her within their what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the business in the City. She little knew what. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Yes." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the in this note: to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a returning from some small jollification and was making his way when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some answer." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I the little opening for the ventilator is." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the me have 200 pounds?' adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. again on its way. carried out of court." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "But how did you gain them?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the my former friend and companion. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." words came to my lips. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "What do you mean?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "If so, much may have happened between." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of in this note: iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Munro.' was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of you." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "And is that all?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Project Gutenberg-tm works. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Seven!" I answered. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of the way of danger. arrangements." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something himself to tell his story. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such ill-usage at the hands of fortune. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his morning." posted to-day." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You bird of prey. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'Ample.' "Witness: I must still refuse. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he his wife has ceased to love him." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this in this note: remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set III. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it minor matters until to-morrow." gone before you can get him to hospital." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to