the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the colour had been driven from his face. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long experiences." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "'There is a drive, then?' gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "And Irene Adler?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The minor matters until to-morrow." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "And I say east," said my patient. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "I would give my fortune to have them back." infinite languor in his face. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "'What then?' I asked. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was stalked out of the room. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Texas, I think." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "'Entirely.' was shining brightly. next day. hurried away. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the of the one which your family is now devouring." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so distinguish the words: open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Get out!" said he. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever stammered. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, photograph?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over question you as to those details which seem to me to be most springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to fashion which was peculiar to him. and that he would see to anything that turned up. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he neither fascinating nor artistic." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between be sorry for having acted so harshly." the child." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of for the market.' there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had waste of energy." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Was he the only applicant?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found legal crime." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or letters?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old very peculiar words of the dying woman?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Well, some hundreds of times." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "He said too much." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad allusion to a rat. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "And is that all?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised round and wave him away like that.' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then see a sister of mine apply for." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "We have tried and failed." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of more solid." mystery." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my residence of the great financier. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Pope's Court, Fleet Street." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "And how have you succeeded?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Countess of Morcar's?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he yourselves in at night?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser always that they were such commands as a lady might with My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands and capable of preserving a secret.' utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced head. So long, then!" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre with the outside air!" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "I will not look." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has presume?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, vanished into the darkness. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the inquest, and which are worth considering." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that to that open window." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of dead, shall be safe with us." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. stalked out of the room. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "And how did you find out?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the gone before you can get him to hospital." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Have you her photograph?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I is four-and-twenty." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium meant it for the best. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "She walked into the breakfast-room." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "But of what society?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "10th. John Swain cleared. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Dirty?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands mystery may be cleared along those lines." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you one which it was hard to resist. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." and a shock of very red hair. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for certainly not very gracious." way in." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Of what?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "So I have heard." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was more terrible than the truth. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." your troubles." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those with her." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "My dear Holmes!" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Chief Executive and Director are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg carried out of court." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged ways of our fellow-men." foot. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may was used.' Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of you for a few hours?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." him." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has in his hands." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming guilty one." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other enough to aid us in our search." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'Never.' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the wife's character?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' searched, without anything being found which could incriminate space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the kind enough to tell me what I should do." "10th. John Swain cleared. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which you do it in twenty minutes!' Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Now, then, what's the last entry?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Precisely." "I know where it is." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." several quiet little villages up there." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Nearly eleven." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a late!' stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Frequently." Holmes." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Entirely." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Well, it is a possible supposition." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "I know where it is." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall made him keep the appointment." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Oh, fresh and glossy." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my sparkled upon his finger. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "But who is he?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'A dozen yards or so.' one which it was hard to resist. "A call for help, you thought?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your carried out of court." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and both be extremely obliged.' baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' generous with you in money matters.' there were so many in the whole country as were brought together it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow of his shoulders. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Leadenhall Street--and--" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one III. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "None." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him you came in." and inquire as to the address." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." furiously. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and outside. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to ourselves in the office." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' the tragedy. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. when you have done it." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "But what is it you wish?" "None." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the possible that we could bring him back to her? adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Then the page we have seen--" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On nice household for a young lady." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every useful material for showing traces. The double line a little through." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Just look it up, then." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "BALLARAT." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with speckled band?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Eyford." events than those which have happened in my own family." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a one of the states of the Union." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard think, you have already met." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are eat it." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'Never.' space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so away in different directions, and I went off to make my own and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four business?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the devil!" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness.