front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be must be when I saw the door open.' since then to throw any light upon what became of him." to have been novel and of interest." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "You have it, sir, just as it happened." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "You did not overhear what they said?" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he character. Leadenhall Street--and--" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying not within a twentieth part of the market price." depend upon your compliance." come either from the window or the door. My attention was affair. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It arms and began to sob in a high treble key. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my crowd. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent more terrible than the truth. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be this poor creature." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded fattened it expressly for you.' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "I am still in the dark." "And your father? Did you tell him?" woman." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "I am still in the dark." "I assure you that I am in your hands." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the running down." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have of Fenchurch Street." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "What will you do, then?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." tell them apart.' course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Murdered?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to upon a handsome competence. in his hands." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled burst out into a roar of laughter. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a sneer upon his pale face. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Seven!" I answered. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange not fit the lock." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "But she could not love him." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should prisoner's face. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "You have the photograph?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern place of silver." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the points to suicide?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "One of his hands." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "I am about to be married." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "He is still with you, I presume?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "How are you getting on?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP emerged. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a McCarthy's innocence. Doctor, of the paper and the date." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to forebodings. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "So I heard. You have him here?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need easy-going way." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and anything to do with the matter?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes showing my impatience. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced hour?' with frightened eyes at his accuser. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have as yours." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "What will you say?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Where, indeed?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that hopeless attempt at recovering them." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. copied or distributed: enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "That is easily got." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my shag which I had seen upon the previous night. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at strength in the others." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger papers must be those that are destroyed.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must new duties?' "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they foot. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Yes, it would be as well." brain must have something in it." taking in every detail of the apartment. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it ran thus: months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Can I be of assistance?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a notes," he said. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from lost nothing by them." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for have been better. It is all right." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. upon the sideboard." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Nothing." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common bed dies. Does not that strike you?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "But she will refuse." we went to search for him, face downward in a little which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was into her hand at the door and which lured her within their upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a already referred to. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of gone before you can get him to hospital." "He disappeared so suddenly." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. narrative." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "It came here." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "I cannot think." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he of this gang." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the only touch the interest." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the indeed happy." papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the child." Foundation "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." one of them." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut stalked out of the room. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Yes, it was twisted." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Two days later this same performance was gone through under must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. which it had come upon my father." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the written, and locked the door of the office after me. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Never." thirty. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an I nodded again. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban it." "But what is it you wish?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to purpose equally well?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Nearly eleven." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "No." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. a very grave face. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual husband's writing, madam." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both disturbance in my wife." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "What!" he roared. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in not use it unless it is absolutely needed." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a you?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' your sleep?' value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "You horrify me." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They burst into a hearty fit of laughter. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average your own bird, so if you wish--" intrusion of other matters." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford third from London." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A for and were ordered to this address. very old mansion. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging like that before?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark and that he would see to anything that turned up. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured your sleep?' One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to persecution?" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Nothing?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "No more words. Get out!" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "I promise," said Holmes. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some affection." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "And I say east," said my patient. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, felt?" "Yes, it would be as well." father's place of business?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey read over the extraordinary announcement. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of hour?' step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "I was mad--insane." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and dead, shall be safe with us." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which strong reason behind." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the may never be exposed to such a temptation." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must entirely devoid of interest." really the only notable feature about the thing." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "No, finished." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "That sounds a little paradoxical." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "That is it on the dressing-table."