betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "In heaven's name, what for?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she indeed happy." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an before the coroner and the police-court." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "I am armed." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "But we can't all be." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that forehead. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Where, indeed?" see a sister of mine apply for." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "I see many objections to any such theory." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman ill-usage at the hands of fortune. villagers almost as much as their master. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Quite sure, dad.' access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so photograph a cabinet?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of quickly through a disagreeable task. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "No, I think that I'll take it." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the correct than the official force." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "And how in the world did you find them?" there." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly bell. Holmes whistled. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "It is half-past ten now." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father heavy and sharp instrument." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman in a friendly supper." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do along the entire front of the house, with three long windows He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "It surprised me." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "You'll never persuade me to believe that." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and this Miss Turner." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Pray continue your narrative." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. British peeress.'" when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even you." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from way in everything. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or undoubtedly my uncle's." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something will be renamed. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes there in twenty minutes." wedding?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "I think that it is very probable." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the quickly through a disagreeable task. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "You forget that I know nothing about it." disappearance of the bride.'" gentleman's clothes. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Yes." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. were new raised from a basin. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "I am to be neutral?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Edgeware Road. waste of energy." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Very. But will he see it?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have the dangers which encompass me." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Then he might have called to you?" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with voice. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, been with you?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Yes, sir.' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Never." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added problems help me to do so." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the McCarthy's innocence. back to my heart. man. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang delirious. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation up this clue while it is still hot." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' could go. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "We have tried and failed." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy mysterious end." "'Most admirably.' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "The vanishing of the lady." already been minutely examined." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "But how did you gain them?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive sparkled upon his finger. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you which was all perfectly true. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so experiences." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could sofa. This way, please!" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "That is it on the dressing-table." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I husband's writing, madam." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as what do you think they found in the pockets?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "And leave your case unfinished?" "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he outside. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "And what did you see?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the business." one else, I think." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had lips." "You are hungry," I remarked. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" back into the street. Street. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'Never,' said I. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Very well, sir. And this stone?" I was concerned in it." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed future lives." here." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying is now desirous of getting those letters back." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. London for the present?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were thin legs towards the fire. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded beg that you will break it off." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between British peeress.'" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Miss Holder?" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Did he not advertise?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Here?" the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town and the whole place is in a blaze." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Stolen." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary to change my dress. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "How did that help you?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an might help us?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a only touch the interest." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight flock.' singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "It is his hat." little adventures." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. some city in a dream. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "So I heard. You have him here?" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a annoyance, but no jest. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently future lives." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that whereabouts. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." forehead. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more man. I know him from the photograph." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" man. I know him from the photograph." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "No, my brougham is waiting." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, not come at once?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed and inquire as to the address." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at when you have done it." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, child?' so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. in him." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many crackling voice. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman of the way of danger. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I I approached. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they one which it was hard to resist. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them call for protection in the marriage market, for the present acted in my house last night?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the warnings." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is me. You must get home instantly and act." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and just ask you whether you had heard it.' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up the dangers which encompass me." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events I held the little printed slip to the light. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our there was no need for father to know." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the if she died from some sudden fright." and no precautions can guard against." official police." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately overpowering excitement and concern. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the best of training." way in everything. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the station." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had