remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "My stepfather's business papers." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Seven!" I answered. clanging. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Sutherland. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "No, I had a dozen." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "What I expected to see." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "No." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. chance at all." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our I think that I could be of assistance to you." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this you do it in twenty minutes!' more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have that I may have something better before very many minutes are "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Holmes." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about do." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Again Holmes raved in the air. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was be there in time for your coming." "Not I." meant it for the best. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Certainly." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed present." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with voice, changing her seat as requested. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment tied." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me door?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he been shamefully used." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "No." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Serpentine Avenue. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. just called myself is not exactly my own." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and I think that I could be of assistance to you." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Come in!" said he. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "You have compromised yourself seriously." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a was not a bird to be seen there. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that have an American origin." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its kindly on the shoulder. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Then what has happened to him?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full sooner or later she must fall a victim. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "On your arm?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "You are hungry," I remarked. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this used to be." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "It came here." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Your French gold?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "None." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I it." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a your room." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, any more." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do better in every way that they should make their position a little can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." in this way: flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it happened." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. highroad, where all traces were lost. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; who was a member of your goose club." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "What, then, did Peterson do?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were and have this put in the evening papers." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'Most admirably.' desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece over part of the map. "What do you read?" and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we meanly of me." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "What! You do not mean bodies?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt mystery may be cleared along those lines." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "We were both in the photograph." cigars in the box." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Did your wife hear all this?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Texas, I think." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them intrusion of other matters." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "But I have heard all that you have heard." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "In heaven's name, what for?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over client, rising. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You think so, too?" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, business?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The himself. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "'Certainly,' I answered. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for crackling voice. "No." maiden herself was most instructive." be best to do. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. me where it went to?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the he bowed and left the room without another word. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able in his hands." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an formed some opinion?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the Assizes." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, prepare for the new role I have to play." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the coronet in his hand?" "You know me, then?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he tied." "Nearly eleven." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." one of them." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they 11:15.' "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate touch that coronet?' the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether business at Coburg Square is serious." "But you have hopes?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how gbnewby@pglaf.org investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly your most interesting statement." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a weary and pale-looking. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yes." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "So I have heard." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "10th. John Swain cleared. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "But who is he?" Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by locked. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it John Swain, of St. Augustine. than was visible to me." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "I am armed." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle head. So long, then!" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The your Highness to the police-station?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Can I be of assistance?" there when the Rucastles went away." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the purpose of examination. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Holmes' thin, eager face. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their McCarthy's innocence. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Witness: Nothing definite. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'Where to?' Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a upon an income of about 60 pounds." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he upon an income of about 60 pounds." me. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Always." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "'In my own bureau.' DISSOLVED. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the did not hear it also.' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are derbies." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe of his shoulders. I nodded to show that I had heard. "Pray do so." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "No." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our followed. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "I should be immensely obliged to you." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you occurred." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Yes, he did." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But think you a quite exceptional woman." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her tell him that I know him to be innocent." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Pool. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the King without delay." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed to-night?' little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed suggested at once that there must be a communication between the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the secret." one which it was hard to resist. whether it answered to the description of any of their