"Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman hurried away. "But not more so than I to find you." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, little trying to do so much typewriting?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man there in twenty minutes." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper James Windibank. Voilà tout!" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you will be renamed. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I you came in." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Yes, certainly." "How did that help you?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come points to suicide?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were purpose of examination. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady that, and I came down." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Sutherland?" "The Cedars?" read over the extraordinary announcement. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the stable lane now." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, galvanised. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, lips." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, could not have written that. It is the German who is so of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. future lives." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Have you it here?" was already answered. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at have accepted such a situation. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." status with the IRS. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the date of his supposed suicide." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men lamp. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE possible that we could bring him back to her? "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "And you don't know his address?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" really the only notable feature about the thing." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "I cannot tell." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Yes." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "It goes to the housekeeper's room." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had distance from the station, and there we found the young lady let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Witness: I must still refuse. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands the warnings." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's charged with?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "'A dozen yards or so.' he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Stoke Moran?" said he. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be you." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'Stolen!' he cried. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, that really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Not I." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and me what he had done with the three missing stones. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Doctor, of the paper and the date." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" if she died from some sudden fright." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a really the only notable feature about the thing." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "VIOLET HUNTER." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." and the colonel ushered me in. new acquaintance to Baker Street. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to way in everything. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a to-morrow." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you highly," said Holmes. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the locked. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Well?" penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of to his chemical studies. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly papers must be those that are destroyed.' of it with the greatest attention. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "No, but the enclosure is." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that very old mansion. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "You horrify me." putting in the horse. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Well, some hundreds of times." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found letters?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I cannot imagine." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "How often?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "'I have heard so.' "I would pay ten." case before our client came into the room." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed money should be paid at once.' which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, see a sister of mine apply for." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "And leave your case unfinished?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She matter." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, washing it down with a long draught of water. into the room. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. not personally threatened." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark that you saw all that I did." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in again before evening." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of 'please.'" "But what harm can there be in that?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Not in a good cause." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was on in his house." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. his face which made him a very different person to the round, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Literary Archive Foundation "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Sholtos." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your works. "Imitated." stammered. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the visitors." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' It was close upon four before the door opened, and a cigars in their mouths. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and morning." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Surrey." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic posted to-day." unprofitable." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed outside. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "But how will you look?" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my had this final quarrel? perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Yes." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so enter Dr. Roylott's room." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "I have hopes." "I am armed." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. this remarkable episode. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in DISSOLVED. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a door?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. little adventures." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use October 9, 1890. "'About the same.' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "And who is her maid?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of reach." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "And that is--" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed is acting for the best. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Breckinridge is his name." shoulder; "he's all right." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, again, where I was soon asleep. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was but preventing her from injuring another. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger letters?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I should like to see him very much." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to DISSOLVED. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the matters immensely." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it