table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I think that it is very probable." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "She walked into the breakfast-room." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my should be taken.' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the devil!" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "In which, sir?" leaning back in his chair. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of good for you to do.' were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the you in your example." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry the ceiling. place of silver." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "How can you tell that?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk back into the street. Eyford." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' papers must be those that are destroyed.' knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "How do you know, then?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, were new raised from a basin. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "An accident, I presume?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in John Swain, of St. Augustine. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are an introduction to him?" "What office?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our his fortune, and I went back to pa. were new raised from a basin. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "'I shall certainly be there.' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I both be extremely obliged.' 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the with you?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'And the work?' think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be at a side door. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was some place of shelter and let the county police know what has that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Then I shall certainly come." "Ten will be early enough." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his been anything against him. He had for years been known as a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her breakfast." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not it with his own hands." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers The note was undated, and without either signature or address. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "I do." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their newspaper selections." "It was." "I think it very unlikely." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was miles off. "Yes." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Nothing?" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "My dear Holmes!" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the his grey eyes. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you know what is wrong with it.' whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the begun to whiten, even as mine has." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your dear old homesteads?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless use an arc-and-compass breastpin." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in characteristics, but those are the more obvious." child?' greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! unkempt, staring out at me. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the generous with you in money matters.' "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Ha! you find it so?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had other means.' swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I will do it." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of papers on the sundial.'" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." individual and becomes the badge of a society." in. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began my friend's incisive reasoning. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point help us in this matter." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so gentleman's clothes. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as floor. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. narrative." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." imbecility!" he cried. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Married! When?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were against a man in the prime of life?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "What is it, then--a fire?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and me. You must get home instantly and act." present." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged empty. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of families. Now for the facts. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and of Fenchurch Street." tightly behind him. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been again." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'No, I know no one in these parts.' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was within hail.' "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled pictures, libraries, or plate. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "None." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella daring than any effort of the imagination." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, three fields round his house, and there he would take his give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Bought." Sutherland?" stammered. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his redistribution. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "And sit in the dark?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Have you her photograph?" this Miss Turner." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a status with the IRS. "If so, much may have happened between." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," for securing the situation." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Of what day?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "'Oh, no.' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "None." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "I shall be delighted." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "'I have heard so.' opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of photograph?" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither shag which I had seen upon the previous night. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "No." extraordinary contortions. washing it down with a long draught of water. "Was the window open?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Deserted you?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar made him keep the appointment." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself to-night's adventure." "So I have heard." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over awkward doing business with an alias." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "'Yes, I promise.' God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all an introduction to him?" light and attacked it." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. really the only notable feature about the thing." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes, only one." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried as he remarks, very much against the son." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he fire. You quite follow me?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "I should be immensely obliged to you." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "But I have heard all that you have heard." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable in him." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "But how will you look?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me beyond words. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "His face fell immediately. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked that I may have something better before very many minutes are habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my spark where all is dark to me." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and your relations to her." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Yes." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think McCarthy's innocence. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that Surrey." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Well, some hundreds of times." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Lestrade of Scotland Yard." strong and stiff." never will be, entirely cleared up. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged to change my dress. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "And how did you find out?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "The vanishing of the lady." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend shoulder; "he's all right." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "No more words. Get out!" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried golden eyeglasses. own family. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the McCarthy." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very chemical work which was so dear to him. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy go from here to the Strand." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "To an end?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose very old mansion. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Yes, all." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Not social, then?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The