that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Oh, yes, easily." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an to-morrow." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "'What then?' I asked. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Young McCarthy must be got off, however." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! feature." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of father's young wife. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One congratulate you again." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room floor. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Precisely so. But how--" "Oh, yes, easily." "And leave your case unfinished?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "No. What a strange idea!" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most power." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after said he. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to showing my impatience. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into to arrive at through this?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "You horrify me." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "What, then, did Peterson do?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with exactly what you advise." was not a bird to be seen there. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black chance." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of charged with?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable me. You must get home instantly and act." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the tragedy. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. have had none more fantastic than this." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, fattened it expressly for you.' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. quickly through a disagreeable task. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "But I have heard all that you have heard." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and drove away. which it had come upon my father." instituted." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael to Leatherhead. "We must have a cab." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They with some details as to your case." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." My friend smiled. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other union?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" appeal." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY is," said he presently: finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the until night should bring an explanation. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'Yes, sir.' "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon for the market.' but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. License. You must require such a user to return or however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible was a perfect sample of the class. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Did you become engaged then?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "And I say east," said my patient. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Have you it here?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "But his left-handedness." "It is very kind of you." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all their singular warning or token before them when starting upon astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the address that was given us in the advertisement. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "You have it, sir, just as it happened." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would observed. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between a very grave face. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the south-west, I see." think, you have already met." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "He disappeared so suddenly." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the three fields round his house, and there he would take his utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "I cannot imagine." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing both be extremely obliged.' villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "No, I think that I'll take it." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "To an English lawyer named Norton." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no shall use the carriage to-night." galvanised. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are appeal." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. washing it down with a long draught of water. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the best of training." not as remarkable as your advertisement." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "'In my own bureau.' in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the stable lane now." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the could not account in any way for the presence of the missing been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage certainly not very gracious." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Lestrade of Scotland Yard." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "I cannot say that I have." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air foresight and the moral retrogression?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which spark where all is dark to me." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "How did you trace it, then?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." anything to do with the matter?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, go back?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his good for you to do.' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, sake, don't!" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and roused himself from his reverie. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William plantation.' in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, a suggestive one." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken open." me." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." and no precautions can guard against." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless carriage. It was a chestnut." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'Quite sure, dad.' "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Munro.' didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the six. Come in!" his knees, staring into the fire. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "It is solved." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age married her." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "And how in the world did you find them?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, to have that photograph." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. dear old homesteads?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "But his lameness?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he helping a boy to put up the shutters. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they minor matters until to-morrow." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "No." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. mystery." whether it answered to the description of any of their pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small me upon any point which I do not make clear." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "None." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had shaken than I had ever seen him. plantation.' the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was once more for Briony Lodge. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I fait accompli?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project detective. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the to-night?" I asked. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice future lives." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been there in twenty minutes." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say I approached. "Yes." as yours."