new duties?' forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I matter over." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I assure you that I am in your hands." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a not as remarkable as your advertisement." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his row." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by interest. They are important, you understand, without being so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds what I may call a really hard day's work." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a get the tickets." morning." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from you came in." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with are, I think, all that we need." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan think that he is innocent?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Yes. He waved his hands." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" of them has the shutters up.' to tell." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage is worth.' practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Then I shall certainly come." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project later, upon the night of May 2nd." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I suddenly upon us." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the coroner come to?" it? Did I buy the geese off you?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon there were so many in the whole country as were brought together following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in suspect him." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, of Fenchurch Street." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Yes." "Always." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I desk. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, chill to my heart. "I cannot imagine." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "The best possible." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we to a more successful conclusion." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "'Most admirably.' "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See weapon." shall not find me ungrateful." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Yes, certainly." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" congenial hunt. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black case-book, which he consulted. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or again, where I was soon asleep. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit occupations.' which are rolled in Rotterdam." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Well, but China?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing was a lad." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It said he at last. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's could not account in any way for the presence of the missing had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked some place of shelter and let the county police know what has They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me papers on the sundial.'" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do guilty parties." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea status with the IRS. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took your own bird, so if you wish--" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder geese which you supplied to the Alpha." notes," he said. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as matter over." nothing with him." answer." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains noting anything else of interest. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark shaken than I had ever seen him. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable meant it for the best. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy upon the sideboard." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton into the bag, and made for the door. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do deduce something from that?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Your French gold?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Her father is very rich?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Who was the criminal, then?" spare." least a most suspicious remark." "What do you make of that, Watson?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his fortune, and I went back to pa. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle wedding?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very characteristics, but those are the more obvious." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "You have carte blanche." upon an income of about 60 pounds." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "And is that all?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to nothing with him." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "I answered that I had not. not within a twentieth part of the market price." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his new duties?' felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the other means.' dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple so.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Why did you pick him?" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years strange features which were associated with the two crimes which his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his what is your own theory as to what took place?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the salesman. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Yes, I have one waiting." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old acted in my house last night?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is have accepted such a situation. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features the stones. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "I know where it is." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the following enigmatical notices: someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Will you go?" "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have secret." to some other building. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." II. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have made him keep the appointment." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the more solid." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A desk. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Well, some hundreds of times." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Well, but China?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first of Fenchurch Street." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got it." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action against a man in the prime of life?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be colour had been driven from his face. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "None." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a himself to hunt down. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and you." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "And for present expenses?" "Yes." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any the loss of it. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "You horrify me!" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor looking up at the numbers of the houses." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one his huge brown hands. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any business." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the occupations.' thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "He might." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the into the bag, and made for the door. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Yes." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "What can you not understand?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily three of the beryls in it, was missing. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I to have that photograph." "Yes." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The doctor?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and leaning back in his chair. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what breakfast." possible that we could bring him back to her? have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I was afraid that you were engaged." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is mystery." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Henry Baker is a member." My friend smiled. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a promised to bring home. "Well, it is a possible supposition." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither own family. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in from the brougham. "But his lameness?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had