course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "He slept on the premises." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "But how will you look?" said he. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." notes," he said. "Who by?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the which it had come upon my father." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY with you?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your whole matter to your consideration." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "What is it?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "I am following you closely," I answered. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without coat-tails." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From hardly wander." paper in the air. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Not social, then?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "In what way?" asked Holmes. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "But you would not advise me to refuse?" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Yes, it was twisted." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, questioning and rather startled gaze. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and forbidden door. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "That was it, sir." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his was lame." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'Where to?' "I was afraid that you were engaged." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "You think so, too?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Certainly." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Will you go?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "He is still with you, I presume?" "No, my brougham is waiting." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside bonnet, and went out." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been results." "What!" he roared. desk. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "'Ample.' "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or stalked out of the room. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am mystery may be cleared along those lines." key of the affair now." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of there were one or two details which were new to me. But the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the purpose of examination. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so danger is over." DISSOLVED. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several maid will bring up your coffee." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "One of the highest in England." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds read over the extraordinary announcement. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is new duties?' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "But she will refuse." gentleman's clothes. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the dramatic, in fact." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were in this note: deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is upon the white wrist. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "On Monday." "Yes." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Edgeware Road. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, question. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered there is a decided draught." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was forehead. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "I have hopes." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." nonsense.' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the your troubles." I took the paper from him and read as follows: in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' prison!" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a in the dead of the night?' "Then you may be so with me." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Did you observe the colour?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very It was close upon four before the door opened, and a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be electronic works nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the which our visitor detailed to us. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in said he. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my presume?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "'You cannot say what it was?' season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out visitors." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down annoyance, but no jest. learned something! Where are the gems?" instincts rose up against that laugh. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which your billet.' "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was three of the beryls in it, was missing. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his again on its way. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria upon an income of about 60 pounds." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" was a lad." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds may never be exposed to such a temptation." Leadenhall Street--and--" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was your only hope of safety." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I cannot tell." "No sign of it?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple been able to understand it, in a very few words. helping a boy to put up the shutters. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable forbidden door. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "And you thought he was pulled back?" bill, which interests me deeply." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "What then?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing think that any burglar could have done. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a he died? "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'How far from the body?' the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Entirely." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Then he might have called to you?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Entirely." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, burst out into a roar of laughter. Holmes' face clouded over. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "This photograph!" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Then I do not see the point." appeal." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of *** START: FULL LICENSE *** But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "May I see it?" wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big man. I know him from the photograph." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' I took the paper from him and read as follows: "'Is 4 pounds a week.' pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "But the mystery?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. I shall continue with my miserable story. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "It is possible." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my him to go away.' invisible to me," I remarked. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Then I do not see the point." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and effective." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned someone who had been in Australia." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Nothing." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." and wait." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day think that he is innocent?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his seem to you to be relevant or not." eavesdroppers?' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in guilty parties." "Very truly yours, "Not in a good cause." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "No, my brougham is waiting." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Entirely." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin II. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "By all means." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in to affect your life." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy Street. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two bird I ate is country bred." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I am in hopes that she does." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow works. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a horse could go." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "10th. John Swain cleared. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I eat it." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "But you were on a friendly footing?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Where, then?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Well." Leadenhall Street--and--" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Well, but China?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Again Holmes raved in the air. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the works. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Pope's Court, Fleet Street." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all would apply.' "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so compunction about shooting them down." my room." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue