corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. exactly what you advise." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "But of what society?" address. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I do." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire as he folded up the epistle. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I back into the street. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." know what is wrong with it.' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. I shall continue with my miserable story. "How are you getting on?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside power." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers to have that photograph." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. away to you." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might American. Then who could this American be, and why should he My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that despair." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and showing my impatience. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have late!' I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him fire. You quite follow me?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Holmes' thin, eager face. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a James Windibank. Voilà tout!" not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your against a man in the prime of life?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose James Windibank. Voilà tout!" didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "I am still in the dark." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Well, but China?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "But what harm can there be in that?" "Then, how do you know?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen taking in every detail of the apartment. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it joking. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "I have seen the police." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between existence." residence of the great financier. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I cannot imagine." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the some city in a dream. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "No sign of it?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and knowledge of the world." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the congenial hunt. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled such attractions and accomplishments?' attention." the loss of it. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way own family. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a I. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Deserted you?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered wedding?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have said he at last. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for quite distinctive." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Did you become engaged then?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "9th. McCauley cleared. "If so, much may have happened between." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "But you have hopes?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said which should have the effect of calling the attention of the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of upon the white wrist. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "'And the work?' "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "What then?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "He said that you could solve anything." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a individual and becomes the badge of a society." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to which was all perfectly true. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Witness: Nothing definite. persecution?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the note?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "But how did you gain them?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "How on earth--" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my better grown goose." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with you understand?" think, you have already met." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a that you wished to speak to me?' was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then assist you in forming an opinion." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Tired-looking or fresh?" "To the police?" in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I came to find a friend." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of empty. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole looking up at the numbers of the houses." outside." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what people don't know." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client prove to be little relation between the different incidents of I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter this poor creature." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." his face. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always chill to my heart. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the long narrative. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a But Holmes shook his head gravely. generous with you in money matters.' it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. gives a meaning to it." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get McCarthy." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the address that was given us in the advertisement. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Yes, he did." "'Very good.' from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have for the market.' he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "'Which dealer's?' "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias it." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "What can it mean?" I gasped. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Yes." "I see many objections to any such theory." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that you in your example." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and before the coroner and the police-court." experiences." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, 1.F. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Street. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my is," said he presently: "How about poison?" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." should be so warm over such a trifle." "To an end?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled strode off upon his way. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Nearly eleven." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs my secret was safe in his possession. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, in the port of London." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and you in your example." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few photograph a cabinet?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running so far?" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Was she in good spirits?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been her also." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. appeal." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "It is solved." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then you?' gone before you can get him to hospital." would apply.' "It came here." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time think that any burglar could have done. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It a suggestive one." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried to where he stood hid behind the curtain. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to without a word or a look. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great