"'There is a drive, then?' "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to companion. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Was there a secret marriage?" that I am arrested." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Yes." congratulate you again." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each a suggestive one." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had read over the extraordinary announcement. be sorry for having acted so harshly." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a fat-encircled eyes. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal seen the man in the road." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of you understand?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "He is dead," cried several voices. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "I cannot imagine." British peeress.'" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of became a certainty. I shall communicate with you." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of his grey eyes. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is just ask you whether you had heard it.' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the nice household for a young lady." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "One?" "What! a murderous attack?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet if only as a check to my own memory." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to morning." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner south, for the country is more deserted there." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. dear old homesteads?" the King without delay." quick march!" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "And on what day did he meet his death?" sofa. This way, please!" Surrey." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his companion. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Well, it is a possible supposition." guilty one." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such papers." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Oh, fresh and glossy." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and breakfast." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a touch that coronet?' speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking have I gained?" feature." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very nice household for a young lady." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "In heaven's name, what for?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond The King stared at him in amazement. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Holmes rather sternly. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her begun to whiten, even as mine has." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been been lifted and conveyed somewhere." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Very truly yours, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and pressing in one house as in another. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, married her." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last second." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view up this clue while it is still hot." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had constraint." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the woven round him. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in round with crates and massive boxes. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that them?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "And why?" "So I have heard." "What! You do not mean bodies?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I garden below. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California I held the little printed slip to the light. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "ARAT," I read. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "I have my revolver," said I. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or written. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I cannot imagine." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "What will you do, then?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable 1.F. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our matter over." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began will he say when he returns?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you country, and eventually married, without anyone having a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Street. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each crime." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "By no means." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and do.' providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than security.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could evidence," I remarked. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six she slowly sank and died without having recovered her I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Count Von Kramm." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without little trying to do so much typewriting?" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my you want, then?' delirious. appeal." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside me. You must get home instantly and act." south, for the country is more deserted there." What do you deduce from it?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Where, indeed?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out stood on the top of it. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning made his money." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Why did you beat the pavement?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "I am in hopes that she does." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, brandy and water within his reach. Countess of Morcar's?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I of a light. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had indeed happy." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Do you receive much company?" he asked. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. friends, not even his own brother. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." if only as a check to my own memory." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." asked with his eyes open. are windows in it, of course?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of was a lad." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the gentleman's clothes. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Game for a morning drive?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, were unconscious?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "No." "No bad?" could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "You think that he is dead?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I am armed." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too been." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police sneer upon his pale face. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have possible that we could bring him back to her? familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is formed some opinion?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. that sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "I will get her to show me." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the stable lane now." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other photograph a cabinet?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my be there in time for your coming." is now desirous of getting those letters back." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "You horrify me!" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Was he the only applicant?" or in danger--" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. as this. Pray let me have the details." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would brandy and water within his reach. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were politicians who had been sent down from the North. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "And how in the world did you find them?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'Most admirably.' "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his