memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the mysterious end." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Holmes' face clouded over. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door morning." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those me have 200 pounds?' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "You were travelling in the States?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the fattened it expressly for you.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my look upon these things in a different way." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit eat it." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, formed some opinion?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "I fear not." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "If so, much may have happened between." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of charged with?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the murdered man." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when tassel actually lying upon the pillow. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. ordinary clothes on?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my like gravel from a pit.' appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him enter into my head. been shamefully used." you, my dear young lady?' observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to are windows in it, of course?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, crackling voice. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was door?" "That you are never beaten." guilty one." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "How can you tell that?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let considering the formidable letters which were received by himself silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "It is no ordinary one." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they envelope. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Where is it, then?" "Perhaps I have." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "What can it mean?" I gasped. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the deduce something from that?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from of the one which your family is now devouring." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy know what is wrong with it.' table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for eat it." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Ah!" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "9th. McCauley cleared. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold some mystery and the punishment of some crime." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS jewels which you have stolen?' go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening you." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, works. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He train.' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the very letters. But what is this written above them?' several quiet little villages up there." chambers. "And now?" He raised his hand. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious forecastle of an emigrant ship. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Did you observe the colour?" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There of his shoulders. "I have solved it." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely house for five minutes.' the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Yes." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for closing the door. cost them two and thirty pounds." "I cannot think." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a were new raised from a basin. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Why did you pick him?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "'You doubt its value?' he asked. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for in his power. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. call for it in person on Monday morning.' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Yes." overpowering excitement and concern. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was other, as fresh and trim as possible. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "I cannot tell." Pool. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in own family. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "And now?" He raised his hand. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "My stepfather's business papers." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" drawing your inferences." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "But it has twice been burgled." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and married her." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the system of imprisonment?" "Will you bet, then?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Seven!" I answered. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Dr. Becher's." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I must compliment you." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, McCarthy's innocence. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding child?' cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a companion imperturbably. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "By train from Waterloo." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "But how will you look?" a good hundred miles off by now." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from extraordinary contortions. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how your equipment. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is now. It seems that there had been some informality about their product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that carried out of court." you?' throat." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his future lives." arrested. You then--" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "We have tried and failed." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one imbecility!" he cried. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, on in his house." "Yes." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "It is no ordinary one." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman anything to do with the matter?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "That sounds a little paradoxical." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." already referred to. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a gbnewby@pglaf.org time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that were wasted." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "At half-wages, in fact." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "What is it?" past. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "It is half-past ten now." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Never." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call washing it down with a long draught of water. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his stammered. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "My private note-paper." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I am armed." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual hardly wander." "What then?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Seven!" I answered. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide so far?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "The Cedars?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "What then?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out noise which awoke you from your sleep?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little point in the dark hollow of his hand. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It some city in a dream. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Your French gold?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Why, what do you mean?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father His smile broadened. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Yesterday." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Imitated." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no you understand?" my room." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the inner apartment." washing it down with a long draught of water. in the dead of the night?' Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry humiliation." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, that I can to serve you." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I handed it to him. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' closing the door. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy never to learn it at all." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in companion quietly. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the intrusion of other matters." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "No?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and introspective fashion. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It