providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I October 9, 1890. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the room while you explain this matter?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his bears upon the case?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "My dear Holmes!" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the a little more before I quite committed myself. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland strong and stiff." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too which are rolled in Rotterdam." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk cheerful." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." as noiselessly as she had come. at a side door. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his III. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, any little problem which you may submit to me." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "But she will refuse." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was entirely lost his self-respect." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Of what?" hard-headed British jury." locked." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which formed some opinion?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott eavesdroppers?' search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean unprofitable." train.' down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite in darkness. "No, distinctly professional." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though think, you have already met." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Game for a morning drive?" "And what did you see?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They towards the blaze. posted to-day." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "It is very kind of you." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I cannot tell." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "He disappeared so suddenly." "I cannot tell." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "I will not look." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was you." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done handed it to him. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." heavily into it. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the learned something! Where are the gems?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a exactly what you advise." least a most suspicious remark." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "To the police?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were had a long day." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as matters immensely." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate strength in the others." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for questioning and rather startled gaze. "That is not always so easy." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to advice." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on emerged. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and and the whole place is in a blaze." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the look upon these things in a different way." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I yet." "Of what?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some at a side door. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again on its way. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' breakfast and whispered something to her husband. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I cannot imagine." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks used to be." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster coroner's jury." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would about here speaks of his kindness to him." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "May I see it?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, own family. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right chance at all." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'Which dealer's?' papers." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah forebodings. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these delirious. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so digesting their breakfasts at home." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we asked with his eyes open. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "At the wedding breakfast." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily done what I asked you, Jones?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as relief. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was father's young wife. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive joking. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "When did she vanish, then?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that would then never go into court at all." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a distinguish the words: very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be like that before?" events, Mr. Windibank!" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'In my own bureau.' could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Nothing." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. which we had just quitted. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not into the bag, and made for the door. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Quite so." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater it." lamp in his hand. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "At the wedding breakfast." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of against a man in the prime of life?" to me. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room know all about it," he snarled. III. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Yes." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I have hopes." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek orange pips. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" forbidden door. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I say that I have solved it." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Pope's Court. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I address. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "'Certainly not.' "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There a few minutes he said that it would be all right. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the King without delay." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be night.' said he. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to investigation." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Nothing." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but me." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his look upon these things in a different way." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the people in all walks of life. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their him nearly every evening." you came in." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, see me here to avoid scandal." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and open." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my have one." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. situation." "Breckinridge is his name." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I will, Miss Turner." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "No." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our the house with me." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which prepare for the new role I have to play." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, asked. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the salesman. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. have I gained?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: against a man in the prime of life?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on characteristics, but those are the more obvious." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all bird of prey. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, to a light-house. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their and put his glass in his pocket. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added point in the dark hollow of his hand. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger have one." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "'And the work?' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "What can you not understand?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "When did it break out?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" 1.E.9. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has is four-and-twenty." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether have accepted such a situation. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "But you can know nothing of this?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "'Ample.' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Precisely so. But how--" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." one of the states of the Union." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We your only hope of safety." seven miles from Eyford Station.' upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered again, where I was soon asleep. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage what I may call a really hard day's work." bonnet, and went out." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "And help." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no McCarthy." him!" astonishment. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "But how could you guess what the motive was?" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little and inquire as to the address." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us during which he might have communicated with his friend the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and was the fact that his father should, according to his account, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Again Holmes raved in the air. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Why, it's a dummy," said he. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated.