rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "No, I think that I'll take it." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Yes." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass to have that photograph." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "BALLARAT." "An accident, I presume?" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an how narrow had been my escape. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I read over the extraordinary announcement. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. at a side door. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not past. important." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a to take care of herself." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Never." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, joking. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "No." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the next day. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "He disappeared so suddenly." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining crime. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Countess of Morcar's?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you power." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "I never have." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a second window is the one that I jumped from." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin keep the flames under. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, success. "What?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded legal crime." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "No. His orders were to stay in the house." to a more successful conclusion." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story of note-paper. It read in this fashion: parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "What do you make of that, Watson?" your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "It was an hour's good drive." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? what is your own theory as to what took place?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one companion. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds simple cases which are so extremely difficult." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there the date of his supposed suicide." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for look upon these things in a different way." against a man in the prime of life?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Yes, that is the Crown." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the matter." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp noble correspondent could be. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold business." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a you understand?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Eyford at 11:15.' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has became a certainty. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "I will not look." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and over here." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Where, then?" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." them present such singular features as the strange train of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley The summons was a brief and urgent one. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "What! You do not mean bodies?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "None." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in it were putty." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the newspaper selections." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, make me his representative both with the servants and with the legal crime." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'In my own bureau.' public press." "Your sister is dead, then?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure clang of the bell. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you in yours." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there and your relations to her." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his again, where I was soon asleep. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "She walked into the breakfast-room." It may be so in this case, also." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." matter." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't strong reason behind." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. the warnings." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Very much so." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen already been minutely examined." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his you in your example." "He might." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My noble correspondent could be. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Yes." "Certainly." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have strange features which were associated with the two crimes which heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note been shamefully used." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "At the wedding breakfast." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Foundation "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling what I may call a really hard day's work." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'I shall certainly be there.' "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the has little to do with my story." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the his forehead." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as present." guilty parties." of receipt of the work. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "You have it, sir, just as it happened." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged union?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit fat-encircled eyes. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, been with you?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. interest. They are important, you understand, without being the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is all that?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'Ample.' receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of handed it to him. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have you do it in twenty minutes!' accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Your presence might be invaluable." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. ceremony." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the to affect your life." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which breakfast." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the inquest, and which are worth considering." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. DAMAGE. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Game for a morning drive?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. tear off another piece?' jewels which you have stolen?' "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Yes, at the mines." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "If so, much may have happened between." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was away in different directions, and I went off to make my own more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "The murder was done with it." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and the whole place is in a blaze." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the himself to tell his story. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just peculiar to him. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be again before evening." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that kind enough to tell me what I should do." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Have you her photograph?" that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "That is it on the dressing-table." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that you can jump it.' same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Dr. Becher's." said I. heavily into it. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." shall not find me ungrateful." call it cruel." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" bachelor.' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, appeal." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "What will you do, then?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My to affect your life." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean answered with a sidelong glance. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." said Mr. Holder. "'Certainly not.' "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and