"I was sure that I might rely on you." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, how narrow had been my escape. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured three fields round his house, and there he would take his off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, know all about it," he snarled. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet asked. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in little adventures." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Yes." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I redistribution. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "A call for help, you thought?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been of." dead, shall be safe with us." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "There is the writing." enter into my head. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who there were one or two details which were new to me. But the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately such person." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the the warnings." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on thin, with a long, sharp nose?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "'Oh, no.' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, have accepted such a situation. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the matter?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." orange pips. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know pound a week." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Eh? What was that?" up this clue while it is still hot." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an it. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of examination of the premises, but without finding anything which these bleak autumnal evenings." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We dramatic, in fact." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her interest. They are important, you understand, without being back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. something of him before." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of you." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'Yes, sir.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his get her out of the way." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during pierced for earrings?" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "10th. John Swain cleared. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Who by?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Why? What do you mean?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "And is that all?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." forehead. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an I held the little printed slip to the light. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP London for the present?" memory. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "But what harm can there be in that?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very noble correspondent could be. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "I cannot imagine." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Did you become engaged then?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "You horrify me." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a works. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the returned to France?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a quick march!" the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Then I shall certainly come." and all of them with the keenest interest. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "An enemy?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could pound a week." guilty one." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' point in the dark hollow of his hand. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and direction." do you make of it all?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Pool. "We must have a cab." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "I was mad--insane." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. quite distinctive." careless servant girl?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." which we had just quitted. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Seven!" I answered. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were simple cases which are so extremely difficult." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons strange features which were associated with the two crimes which End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an his cane at the bell-pull. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "But we can't all be." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I should be immensely obliged to you." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building to change my dress. do." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "So I heard. You have him here?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare had picked up in the wood. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "But we can't all be." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "If I can be of use." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the begun to whiten, even as mine has." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless purpose equally well?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Thank you. Pray proceed." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is take the flies, but not before." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between mystery!" darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot I took the paper from him and read as follows: house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and out of this horrible affair." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. garden below. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Oh, fresh and glossy." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "I don't say that. Perhaps." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which the armchair which I pushed forward for him. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." 11:15.' abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his papers on the sundial.'" the inner apartment." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and is," said he presently: "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in which it had come upon my father." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at existence." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Could he throw no light?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Where to?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn III. and the church but not where the lady lived." "But what harm can there be in that?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. directors, with the result that you have seen." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Pope's Court. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after trifles." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Precisely so. But how--" "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the dangers which encompass me." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Holmes. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said excitement. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from miles off. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will works. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "And how did you find out?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'Entirely.' little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Was the window open?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "What do you mean?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Doctor, of the paper and the date." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is there has been an enclosure here!" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see daring than any effort of the imagination." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so residence of the great financier. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "And leave your case unfinished?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "You saw the ventilator, too?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Young McCarthy must be got off, however." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all woman who has had her own way to make in the world. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Is he quiet?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "What will you say?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a better grown goose." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold deduce something from that?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and golden eyeglasses. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I matter over." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for in him." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see McCarthy." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as done what I asked you, Jones?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "That is possible." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'And what salary do you ask?' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that of Mr. Rucastle's." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "No." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and your relations to her." an introduction to him?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly such person." to-night's adventure." "And you thought he was pulled back?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide License. You must require such a user to return or collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in