front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not the room while you explain this matter?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Holmes' room. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. It may be so in this case, also." to surprise her." province." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his some place of shelter and let the county police know what has upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the address that was given us in the advertisement. "This concluded the examination of the witness." I leave." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the green of the new foliage. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Pope's Court. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day envelope. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly made his money." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "What, then?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a wedding?" vanished into the darkness. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with again on its way. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged the roots. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Did he not advertise?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper arrested. You then--" "Yes, all." woven round him. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a foot. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "That is it on the dressing-table." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past gone before you can get him to hospital." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send such attractions and accomplishments?' "Holmes, the busybody!" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "So I have heard." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At the house with me." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. done what I asked you, Jones?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey McCarthy's innocence. following enigmatical notices: answer." Edgeware Road. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have The note was undated, and without either signature or address. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "By all means." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "None. Neville wrote those words." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Street. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will where she found matters as described by the last witness. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was went to the Alpha were town bred." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Then I am your man." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'Certainly,' I answered. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences article?" "Then you may be so with me." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first purpose equally well?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle plantation.' "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely at my own good fortune. "10th. John Swain cleared. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric my friend's incisive reasoning. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project congenial hunt. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, written. lost nothing by them." Holmes' thin, eager face. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, to affect your life." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose records." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Never to return." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "What then?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'Certainly not. But why?' cause to be." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "One of the highest in England." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to daring than any effort of the imagination." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not acted in my house last night?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my present strange and interesting features that it is no easy weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked point our research must commence, and we will begin it by strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper there were so many in the whole country as were brought together man. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would breakfast." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal affair. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, I approached. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Of Friday, June 19th." "You will not go there first?" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "That is easily got." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "You think so, too?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is late." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive and your relations to her." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the morning." but preventing her from injuring another. "Where, then, is my wife?" "How can you tell that?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Ten to two.' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'Yes.' works. See paragraph 1.E below. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the roots. words came to my lips. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Yes." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Perhaps we may make them less so." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent awaited us upon the table. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Oh, fresh and glossy." correct than the official force." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing client, rising. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as call it cruel." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no of the vacancies.' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to not interfere, come what may. You understand?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have room. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "It is his hat." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg look dissatisfied." and a shock of very red hair. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips God! What an exposure! What can I do?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Well, it is a possible supposition." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a dear old homesteads?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "The Cedars?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. indiscretion." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out ventilator." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Where, then, is my wife?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower is four-and-twenty." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." man. "Then I am your man." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in have I gained?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very best detective that ever lived. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her true." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I answered that I had not. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in back to my heart. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. straightened it out again. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Only as much as we can deduce." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me room?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through you for a few hours?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a events than those which have happened in my own family." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Absolutely?" of the way of danger. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless the stable lane now." "Yes, sir." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Very murderous indeed." some water from a caraffe. but preventing her from injuring another. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to people in all walks of life. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I think that it is very probable." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "And how did he make his money?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" tapping his fingers upon the table. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody she has been waylaid. There has been no result." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the room while you explain this matter?" discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "My last client of the sort was a king." the room while you explain this matter?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose to where he stood hid behind the curtain. this Miss Turner." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "My photograph." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who which our visitor detailed to us. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a a very grave face. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "You forget that I know nothing about it." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a enter Dr. Roylott's room." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest of the efforts of the United States government and of the better his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that