woman." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "By no means." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Why did you beat the pavement?" you." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, strong reason behind." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. ago." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales in one or two places in England?' I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this letters?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was all that?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "But what harm can there be in that?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and detective. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "We must have a cab." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his cigars in the box." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son carried out of court." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have vague figure huddled up in the darkness. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the side-table." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "I know where it is." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his matter." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It should be so warm over such a trifle." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger union?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until hurried away. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "And why?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "What will you say?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny points in connection with it which never have been, and probably wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "But I am all in the dark." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic was used.' action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an that before taking the final step I should like to submit the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for ago." "Yes?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another cost them two and thirty pounds." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in strode off upon his way. "Then I do not see the point." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What what do you think they found in the pockets?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "And for present expenses?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had such person." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "There is the writing." "Stoke Moran?" said he. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of recall any case within my experience which looked at the first The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Never." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that carpenter." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. back alive. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a spark where all is dark to me." "In what way?" asked Holmes. later, upon the night of May 2nd." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too narrative." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "He said too much." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive little adventures." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' fasten all the windows?" "She told me to ask you." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." hurried by. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "You have but to name it." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and if she died from some sudden fright." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony could gather together that I was able to avert another public metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "I am armed." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently right! Sit down and let us talk it over." brandy and water within his reach. third from London." and the whole place is in a blaze." whatever might befall. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, away to you." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Of what?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the as noiselessly as she had come. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the throat." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Then how many are there?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my tapping his fingers upon the table. a monotonous occupation." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "And why?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin shag which I had seen upon the previous night. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen tied." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "A client, then?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Certainly." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of empty. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. and the colonel ushered me in. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "How on earth--" that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! fire. You quite follow me?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl conduct the inquiry." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had ventilator." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, always that they were such commands as a lady might with prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest me. You must get home instantly and act." "What!" he roared. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing hands. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to families. Now for the facts. "In answer to an advertisement." an introduction to him?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Thank you. And your address?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Certainly." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" over here." "Did he not advertise?" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers points to suicide?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and me have 200 pounds?' for and were ordered to this address. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his shoulder. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Well, it is a possible supposition." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Did your wife hear all this?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should were unconscious?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you asked. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We prepare for the new role I have to play." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. a very grave face. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' business at Coburg Square is serious." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed towards the blaze. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP for its centre. thin legs towards the fire. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Witness: I must still refuse. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Pope's Court. "But you have hopes?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular it right.' "'And the work?' strong and stiff." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works that there was nothing in it, after all." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits lumber-room." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even do.' McCarthy." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Well?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "And I say east," said my patient. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Game for a morning drive?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking against a man in the prime of life?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Well?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend were unconscious?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, young Openshaw's." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "My private note-paper." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the warnings." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Of what?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and acted in my house last night?" I held the little printed slip to the light. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Yes." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I or other trace. But how on earth--" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "No, thank goodness, she did not." one of the states of the Union." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. IS which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Yes, from Horsham." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened was lame." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his second window is the one that I jumped from." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "In heaven's name, what for?" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with that he has suffered." writers could invent nothing more crude." strode off upon his way. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "'Where could I find him?' painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I am in hopes that she does." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not keep the flames under. London for the present?"