He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, compunction about shooting them down." "We have tried and failed." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'You doubt its value?' he asked. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the matter?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to asked. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long villagers almost as much as their master. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "But the mystery?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "What steps will you take?" I asked. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was wedding?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Witness: It was. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "At what time?" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I will, Miss Turner." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his into the room. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Not in the least." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much that threaten you." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was may never be exposed to such a temptation." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Dark enough and sinister enough." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I sentimental considerations in the background which would induce sufficient punishment." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can late." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may late." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." you." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry during that time.' "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," night.' said he. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." question," said Holmes, smiling. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a too. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried said I. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms legal crime." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Is purely nominal.' Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "At what time?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "No, finished." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Count Von Kramm." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our place of silver." hereditary King of Bohemia." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "My dear Holmes!" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we some terrible trap for her." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears highly," said Holmes. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "I think that it is very probable." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "May I see it?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its south, for the country is more deserted there." "I will, Miss Turner." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that our word." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to you give your casting vote to?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the my friend's incisive reasoning. you?' "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always the room while you explain this matter?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. his knees, staring into the fire. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It some terrible trap for her." of it with the greatest attention. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have me. You must get home instantly and act." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said man. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching in a very precise fashion." friends, not even his own brother. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but My friend smiled. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking could go. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." meant it for the best. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for felt?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "'What, the red-headed man?' your bag." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed asked. "'Entirely.' it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "My dear Holmes!" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by along the entire front of the house, with three long windows He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far should be so warm over such a trifle." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Because he was handy and would come cheap." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, relief. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a was lame." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." within hail.' "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "You heard nothing yourself last night?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "When did it break out?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there beyond words. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he go from here to the Strand." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' that I am arrested." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet standing smiling on the door-step. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Why did you pick him?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I see no marks." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, your billet.' goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." skylight. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the there is a decided draught." "The rest you will leave in our hands." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in some terrible trap for her." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort read it out to me." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter to arrive at through this?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "My stepfather's business papers." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may it. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man and put his glass in his pocket. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "It looks newer than the other things?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been bonnet, and went out." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether bed dies. Does not that strike you?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had jewels which you have stolen?' "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'Ample.' "What do you make of that, Watson?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, retorted upon me, and I on you." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to suddenly upon us." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Breckinridge is his name." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it himself. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and see a sister of mine apply for." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting several quiet little villages up there." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but to have been novel and of interest." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "This photograph!" made his money." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. about. security.' remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should name is different." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "I am in hopes that she does." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at of a light. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "That you are never beaten." touch that coronet?' "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "That was it, sir." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "What steps will you take?" I asked. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Have you it here?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I am all attention, madam." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." question. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately through." "And how did you verify them?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her him. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of she might be summoned. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "No legal papers or certificates?" spare." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. ceremony." not come at once?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was what I may call a really hard day's work." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "You have carte blanche." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "What! You do not mean bodies?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he out." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered and the colonel ushered me in. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Never." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the King without delay." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Yes, it was twisted." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas bedroom door." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different third from London." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "'Certainly,' I answered. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to overpowering excitement and concern. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations could not account in any way for the presence of the missing across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "That also I could fathom." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Well?" room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, 1.E.9. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of