Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the child." address. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "How did that help you?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to upon the white wrist. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and my secret was safe in his possession. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "She walked into the breakfast-room." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite digesting their breakfasts at home." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "And for present expenses?" correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'I have heard so.' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "'Oh, no.' America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with away into the river." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. redistribution. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so way in." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my legal crime." "No?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I present." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" window when the police appeared." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Mrs. Toller serenely. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Pope's Court. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time records." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a despaired of." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is advice." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "You forget that I know nothing about it." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of up this clue while it is still hot." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Eh? What was that?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me subject to the trademark license, especially commercial reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "By all means." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, lost nothing by them." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Game for a morning drive?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. away to you." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him and looked back. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Bought." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "You have but to name it." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the round and wave him away like that.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Oh, yes, easily." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. away to you." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some appointment with me for six o'clock?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant problems help me to do so." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." too. for and were ordered to this address. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "But of what society?" ourselves in the office." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Yes." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "And what did you learn from him?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me became a certainty. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "And is that all?" young Openshaw's." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Here?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not kind enough to tell me what I should do." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered it were putty." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life like that before?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "You have the photograph?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "You did not overhear what they said?" McCarthy's innocence. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a is so. I know all about McCarthy." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I assure you that I am in your hands." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and back into the street. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I once more for Briony Lodge. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Do you know him?" front of me. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this to you." coroner's jury." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "No. His orders were to stay in the house." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Nearly eleven." in a very precise fashion." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I the devil!" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Where did he live, then?" stalked out of the room. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Will you bet, then?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it acted in my house last night?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. generous with you in money matters.' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we the date of his supposed suicide." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of means taking possession of that which another person has a prior to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Oh, yes, easily." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a not as remarkable as your advertisement." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Yes." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had possible that we could bring him back to her? after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during question. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but sake, don't!" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." golden eyeglasses. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She unprecedented a position." I. thirty. "The King of Scandinavia." mystery may be cleared along those lines." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for again before evening." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." cup of tea. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "No." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a could not have written that. It is the German who is so stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "It was an hour's good drive." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "You have a clue?" exactly what you advise." tell them apart.' "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Pray continue your narrative." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind putting in the horse. "I have solved it." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "You have the photograph?" garden below. should be taken.' since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the of your young ladies.' morning." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that these bleak autumnal evenings." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "I see many objections to any such theory." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "So I have heard." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. woven round him. nonsense.' conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really go from here to the Strand." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my lectures into a series of tales." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a introspective fashion. "You have compromised yourself seriously." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No, I had a dozen." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to his face which made him a very different person to the round, sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "It is possible." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough out." "But he might be a bachelor." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might will he say when he returns?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat dear old homesteads?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the iron safe, which he closed upon it. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to humiliation." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either wall." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old emerged. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be do you make of it all?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if fatally injured? "No." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich