"I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Did you become engaged then?" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "'And the work?' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Just look it up, then." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about generous with you in money matters.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the coroner come to?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'What then?' I asked. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." that, and I came down." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "A confidential servant?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "My own seal." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was bell. Holmes whistled. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Certainly." This is what he says: brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley excitement. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Stolen, then." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Then you may entirely rely on me." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. meant it for the best. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "It is solved." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Nothing." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should Mary, has deserted me." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far sake, don't!" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the ceremony." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. that threaten you." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "I cannot imagine." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the very morning of the wedding." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with out of this horrible affair." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "What have you to say now?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward opportunities to fix the problem. "Here?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The fire. You quite follow me?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to and your relations to her." "'Then let me do so?' about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my him, that man would not have given me such complete information scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all pity, because in other respects you would really have done very I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a business came to an end." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the of them has the shutters up.' is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You read it out to me." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down definite end. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would or other trace. But how on earth--" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Yes." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I have hopes." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "You horrify me!" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their point our research must commence, and we will begin it by of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" may have an influence upon European history." stammered. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The sentimental considerations in the background which would induce know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I very old mansion. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End gone. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope companion imperturbably. "Was she in good spirits?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "An enemy?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "I am still in the dark." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "No more words. Get out!" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I go back?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "He said too much." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "And how did you find out?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "I answered that I had not. "My dear Holmes!" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. returned to France?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "But you can know nothing of this?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "He slept on the premises." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Then I shall certainly come." hurried away. affair. gone. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it narrative." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or was keenly on my guard against him. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "And I to find an enemy." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I should wish to." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "The landlord of the Alpha." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Well, some hundreds of times." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "How did you deduce the select?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their were new raised from a basin. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I am all attention, madam." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'Stolen!' he cried. the south-west, I see." money should be paid at once.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I man. I know him from the photograph." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For have not had my rubber." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Precisely so. But how--" interest. They are important, you understand, without being Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I business matters.' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare swore that no one else had been in the front room during the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which there were so many in the whole country as were brought together over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "And Irene Adler?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that occupations.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "A client, then?" villagers almost as much as their master. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he stepfather?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge morning." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. answered with a sidelong glance. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by hard-headed British jury." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Not him." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. looking up at the numbers of the houses." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY him, that man would not have given me such complete information the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to married her." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed For additional contact information: "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Which are?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in locked." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" lips." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "No, I had a dozen." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Entirely." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my since then to throw any light upon what became of him." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to tassel actually lying upon the pillow. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Was the window open?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the reach." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to ago." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated away to you." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked where we are going." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted important." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his question you as to those details which seem to me to be most following enigmatical notices: my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Yes." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Yes." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, suddenly upon us." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "And why?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I cannot as yet see any connection." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Again Holmes raved in the air. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, are windows in it, of course?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he stepfather?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." helping a boy to put up the shutters. least a most suspicious remark." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how never to learn it at all." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "I think it very unlikely." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily you, my dear young lady?' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always again, where I was soon asleep. "That is unusual in a young girl."