many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "I would pay ten." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." any little problem which you may submit to me." hereditary King of Bohemia." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to question," said Holmes, smiling. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's locked." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Yes, sir." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to you." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our to affect your life." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Yes, sir." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, in this note: credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'As governess?' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to photograph?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his door?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "'Which dealer's?' ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying as the one I chose?' are windows in it, of course?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the client, rising. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we time." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I discontent upon his features. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any at home. whatever might befall. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as gone. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you round and wave him away like that.' "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Yes." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "But you have hopes?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man is so. I know all about McCarthy." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a http://gutenberg.net/license). indiscretion." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." both be extremely obliged.' one of them." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and very peculiar words of the dying woman?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "And how did you verify them?" absorbing." "No." "Really! You surprise me." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, lamp in his hand. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad to where he stood hid behind the curtain. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "He slept on the premises." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair opportunities to fix the problem. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Quite so." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. locked. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "But what will you do?" "Will you go?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the to tell." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "By no means." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second certainly not very gracious." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "I was sure that I might rely on you." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'And the work?' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "So I am. Very much so." the running down." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no It was close upon four before the door opened, and a the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon views." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "How did you trace it, then?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the warnings." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Perhaps we may make them less so." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered bird I ate is country bred." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE eat it." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It have accepted such a situation. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Never." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." gbnewby@pglaf.org We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project place no limit on the sum I may draw." some water from a caraffe. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable excitement. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the question," said Holmes, smiling. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he was not a bird to be seen there. Holmes' room. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near and capable of preserving a secret.' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." returning from some small jollification and was making his way the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "And did you observe any change in her then?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce miles off. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Frequently." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful October 9, 1890. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the sneer upon his pale face. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Well." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "None." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." writing, and yet I know it well." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door without success. At last the little money which I had saved began the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of out." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended disappearance of these gems?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "'Yes, sir.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Nearly eleven." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will will be renamed. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to annoyance, but no jest. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in strong and stiff." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. the morning and make my own way in the world.' usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Yes." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who meant it for the best. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room tied." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the will not take me long to tell. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I there when the Rucastles went away." you for a few hours?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself people don't know." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Never." done what I asked you, Jones?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "From his hat?" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little cup of tea. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to which should have the effect of calling the attention of the key turn in the lock." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the tied." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." despaired of." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across the devil!" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed he died? the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would key turn in the lock." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. stood on the top of it. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Pray let us have it, for all that." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." said he at last. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Was she in good spirits?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight you." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "'A dozen yards or so.' About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that were new raised from a basin. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me will not take me long to tell. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat events, Mr. Windibank!" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the in my life." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "On the contrary, this is the right side." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "We have tried and failed." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." suspect him." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "And the cigar-holder?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Cross for the Continent." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have and have this put in the evening papers." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, address. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe without success. At last the little money which I had saved began address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Where does the thing come from?' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." him to go away.' time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "It is possible." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten business." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And now?" I asked. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature this truth that in these little records of our cases which you and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. of campaign. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so persecution?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "One?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head be. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. enter Dr. Roylott's room." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There