lips." maiden herself was most instructive." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a room had already been engaged for us. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my to arrive at through this?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" said he. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a weapon." and effective." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. better grown goose." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." locked. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in wife's character?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Chief Executive and Director long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Come in!" said he. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, be best to do. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master place of silver." house for five minutes.' not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "What will you do, then?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "And when will you call?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" the ceiling. had formerly been in part my own. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "But how?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "And for present expenses?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect astonishment. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "My stepfather's business papers." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of him. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Not particularly." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the some city in a dream. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when his knees, staring into the fire. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "What!" he roared. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would the coroner come to?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Then what has happened to him?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "But how did you gain them?" said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all about. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few that there was nothing in it, after all." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Very well, sir. And this stone?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the other lovers by making love himself." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of other, as fresh and trim as possible. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "But she will refuse." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the yet." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "And now?" I asked. ways of our fellow-men." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by of receipt of the work. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." if only as a check to my own memory." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, what I may call a really hard day's work." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Yes." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Stolen, then." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He retorted upon me, and I on you." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "And why in hopes?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled think that he is innocent?" "How did you deduce the select?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. his eyes and forehead. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his call for protection in the marriage market, for the present moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'Then let me do so?' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Have you it here?" tapping his fingers upon the table. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. residence of the great financier. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several dear old homesteads?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. chance at all." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, bare slabs of marble. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "And your mother is alive?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the voice. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the bedroom door." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the definite end. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "I came to find a friend." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, you in your example." she might be summoned. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as companion quietly. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Could he throw no light?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now into the room. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. little adventures." "So I have heard." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "And how did he make his money?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical forecastle of an emigrant ship. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Well." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Then the page we have seen--" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, I shall continue with my miserable story. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Did your wife hear all this?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "'Why that?' I asks. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some photograph?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Pray let us have it, for all that." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Holmes rather sternly. events, Mr. Windibank!" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "But what is it you wish?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Farm upon the left." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his there were so many in the whole country as were brought together conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable because she had spent so short a time in this country that she than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought photograph?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'Tell me all about it,' said I. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the girl said." companion. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Where is it, then?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then me have 200 pounds?' there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all again before evening." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "It missed him, then?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Indeed! Whose, then?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." lost his Christmas dinner." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. and looked back. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, and no precautions can guard against." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears absorbing." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I amused." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny of the vacancies.' States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Of what day?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, article?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "'Where could I find him?' already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was you do it in twenty minutes!' will take you up to see the machine.' we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Yes, certainly." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I think that it is very probable." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "I don't believe it." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to 'please.'" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "She walked into the breakfast-room." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "I never have." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened God! What an exposure! What can I do?" bill, which interests me deeply." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." is a common subject for conversation. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "What will you say?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Yes. He waved his hands." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black weigh very heavily upon my conscience." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was forecastle of an emigrant ship. whether it answered to the description of any of their size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a one's self under obligations.' it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists.