Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was subject to the trademark license, especially commercial the roots. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such becomes even more simple." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured next day. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "To an end?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Stolen, then." "Never to return." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about back to my heart. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "'Certainly,' I answered. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "And the murderer?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Oh, fresh and glossy." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I children over to America with him, so that I found myself without money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in outsides of the windows. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he arrested. You then--" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with to go into your room and bar your shutters?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Her father is very rich?" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in better in every way that they should make their position a little "And what then?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Have you it here?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the possible that we could bring him back to her? to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. prisoner's face. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the formed some opinion?" equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "But how did you gain them?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Can I be of assistance?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my bedroom door." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in room. McCarthy." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "My opinion is in no way altered." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would appeal." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave all-comprehensive glances. bonnet, and went out." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Stoke Moran." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "What do you make of that, Watson?" in him." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of threw himself down with his face to the pillow. own family. think you a quite exceptional woman." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest imbecility!" he cried. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some instincts rose up against that laugh. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "No." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Nothing." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just night.' said he. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened of fine shops and stately business premises that they really was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to lost his Christmas dinner." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I his cane at the bell-pull. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Young McCarthy must be got off, however." London for the present?" posted to-day." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me good-night and bustled off upon her way. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "To an English lawyer named Norton." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "By all means." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had lumber-room." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "She told me to ask you." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Look there!" said he. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Where is it, then?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "'Yes, sir.' quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "I think it very unlikely." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "When did it break out?" beyond words. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love do." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "It certainly sounds feasible." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "I will try. What is it?" behind me. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" to-night." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there said I. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. at home. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two congratulate you again." hour?' good-night and bustled off upon her way. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and do.' which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Yes, from Horsham." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" papers." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. indiscretion." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my sound at heart." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love what is your own theory as to what took place?" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting to-night." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "And what then?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "I have a cab outside." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar purpose equally well?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I trifles." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have feature." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Can I be of assistance?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. in the port of London." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. weary and pale-looking. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "That is possible." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side stammered. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but writing, and yet I know it well." seem to you to be relevant or not." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you the tragedy. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Two days later this same performance was gone through under metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently sound at heart." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the window, rose as we entered. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in your bag." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "You forget that I know nothing about it." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better footfalls from the street. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and paper in the air. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "But how will you look?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side you?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my it were putty." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out examine." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Nothing." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of Fenchurch Street." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It You can understand that this register and diary may implicate were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't formed some opinion?" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and room?" something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to events, Mr. Windibank!" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six present." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "No." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from an introduction to him?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the nice household for a young lady." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else posted to-day." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Of what?" at my own good fortune. vault. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and Serpentine Avenue. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been furiously. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'What do you call purely nominal?'