and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for allusion to a rat. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "I will do it." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who in. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and that there was nothing in it, after all." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry and shall probably return to London by the evening train." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new forbidden door. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, tell them apart.' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and you for a few hours?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited cause to be." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. me." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. he died? public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm was a lad." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after bed dies. Does not that strike you?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "And why?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend a monotonous occupation." is acting for the best. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Ah!" leave you to your papers for a little." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, have an American origin." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Certainly." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they so far?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Tired-looking or fresh?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Then I do not see the point." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" appeal." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." he died? "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" your only hope of safety." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a cup of tea. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Do you receive much company?" he asked. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and results." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; sake, don't!" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "What can it mean?" I gasped. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." delirious. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of outside. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering business at Coburg Square is serious." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child you, my dear young lady?' learned something! Where are the gems?" battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my keep the flames under. "We have tried and failed." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was matter." "But how?" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "How can you tell that?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the few hundred pounds.' providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "'Oh, no.' "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage sooner or later she must fall a victim. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly your own bird, so if you wish--" front of me. "Yes, I have one waiting." "And you don't know his address?" works. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Stolen." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "No sign of it?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." success. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set round and wave him away like that.' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "At what time?" Eyford at 11:15.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Nearly eleven." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Really! You surprise me." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" putting in the horse. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the mystery." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'What then?' I asked. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been when your master had gone out." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "He said that you could solve anything." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Nothing." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the some terrible trap for her." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with to some other building. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "His face fell immediately. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "'What would be the hours?' I asked. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Yes?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "And from a noble client?" Sutherland?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary about. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "'Then let me do so?' "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client developed." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "I would pay ten." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' carriage. It was a chestnut." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Thank you. And your address?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from one else, I think." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "What do you mean?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'I am sure if I had known--' against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'I have heard so.' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress rooms." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "She will not sell." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for kindly on the shoulder. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, detained." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, whole matter to your consideration." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were you in your example." "'Very good.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the see a sister of mine apply for." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." that threaten you." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a the running down." "Very. But will he see it?" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the ceiling. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there was feeling which was the fattest.' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open I approached. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which congenial hunt. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know could go. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, suddenly upon us." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "None." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "No." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle time." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a pound a week." house for five minutes.' "You will not go there first?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for there were so many in the whole country as were brought together indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be happened." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Yes." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance country, and eventually married, without anyone having a I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past murdered man." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." tail." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" power." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The child?' have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" chemical work which was so dear to him. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin ways of our fellow-men." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is putting in the horse. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to-night." him nearly every evening." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached case before our client came into the room." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his