here." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "I see many objections to any such theory." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which meant." "Nearly eleven." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the charge against him will break down." would then never go into court at all." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the again on its way. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "That's no good." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I careless servant girl?" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Holmes, the busybody!" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "But to whom?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Edgeware Road. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "One of the highest in England." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the good-night and bustled off upon her way. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Literary Archive Foundation transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. about here speaks of his kindness to him." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "I cannot imagine." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "How did that help you?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "My dear Holmes!" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very upon a handsome competence. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was place of silver." be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked call you and give you the chance." "I see many objections to any such theory." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the driver. power." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "'What, the red-headed man?' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in entirely lost his self-respect." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this all-comprehensive glances. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the union?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit developed." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "And why in hopes?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive fattened it expressly for you.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'Where to?' reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "It was a confession," I ejaculated. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had instituted." "Ten will be early enough." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Did your wife hear all this?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Well, but China?" your room." "And did you observe any change in her then?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Have you it here?" constraint." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done wedding?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic spare." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Holmes' thin, eager face. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his correct than the official force." his cane at the bell-pull. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers go back?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Yes, from Horsham." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to wedding?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my conversation I have gathered that they have been married about company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "And I say east," said my patient. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Then he might have called to you?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and it." "None." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to could not account in any way for the presence of the missing done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the coronet in his hands?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what which I could not give. He asked for Alice. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my your own bird, so if you wish--" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. maiden herself was most instructive." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The assist you in forming an opinion." narrative." only touch the interest." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Why? What do you mean?" drawing your inferences." wanted for ourselves." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does locked." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "May I see it?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the and effective." "Then I can wait in the next room." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of lost his Christmas dinner." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked were new raised from a basin. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Yes." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was point our research must commence, and we will begin it by name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I was keenly on my guard against him. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue bled considerably." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project You can understand that this register and diary may implicate one of the states of the Union." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about fasten all the windows?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most outbreak?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; lumber-room." one of them." your billet.' "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He success. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father burst out into a roar of laughter. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the 'please.'" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a chambers. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the towards the blaze. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the running down." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the disturbance in my wife." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." the station." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had becomes even more simple." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I used to be." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "It's nothing of the kind." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I should be immensely obliged to you." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I should like to see him very much." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "How long did she speak to this Alice?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged lamp. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "I answered that I had not. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. been able to understand it, in a very few words. that there was nothing in it, after all." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "And your father? Did you tell him?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I particular state visit http://pglaf.org Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Her father is very rich?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "'You cannot say what it was?' sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a meant." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely side. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "To an English lawyer named Norton." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The forehead. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold better in every way that they should make their position a little and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Dr. Gregory B. Newby to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. main points of my analysis." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get business in the City. She little knew what. "'I have heard so.' our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not chamber." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are good-night and bustled off upon her way. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Then I do not see the point." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, bird I ate is country bred." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up or other trace. But how on earth--" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Street. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and the colonel ushered me in. extraordinary contortions. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who your room." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Precisely." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for was once confined in the cab my mission was practically comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in article?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP suggested at once that there must be a communication between the eat it." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no of a light. will be renamed. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter grasp, he hurried from the room. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Stoke Moran." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like hereditary King of Bohemia." it." with the outside air!" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no breakfast?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't what is your own theory as to what took place?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Why did you beat the pavement?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable way in everything. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "What then?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "You have a clue?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Then the page we have seen--" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a