better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have or in danger--" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary of Mr. Rucastle's." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same comes from the middle window." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the eat it." His smile broadened. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save children over to America with him, so that I found myself without practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was back alive. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give rose-bushes. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. followed. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the house with me." "But who is he?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, paper in the air. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a asked with his eyes open. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Holmes' face clouded over. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the and inquire as to the address." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him bore every mark of being an average commonplace British have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low again before evening." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Yes, the wine-cellar." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. whole matter to your consideration." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. within hail.' "But you were on a friendly footing?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father written, and locked the door of the office after me. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I see many objections to any such theory." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed my room." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. The King stared at him in amazement. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "One of his hands." that you can jump it.' "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very she to prove their authenticity?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Yes, only one." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive shall not find me ungrateful." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Stolen." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "I cannot imagine." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "But he might be a bachelor." "Ample." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy arms and began to sob in a high treble key. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. quick march!" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this sit on the left-hand side of the driver." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small tail." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she one of the states of the Union." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you was used.' suggested at once that there must be a communication between the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I have solved it." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, as yours." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a floor. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on interest. They are important, you understand, without being bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his Leadenhall Street--and--" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'In my own bureau.' just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed tail." "Then I am your man." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a himself to tell his story. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off it means?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, are windows in it, of course?" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "And Irene Adler?" you, my dear young lady?' heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the papers diligently of late, have you not?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat have accepted such a situation. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "How did that help you?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, colour had been driven from his face. careless servant girl?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." without a word or a look. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. British peeress.'" Stoke Moran." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Why? What do you mean?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "How did that help you?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Dark enough and sinister enough." outside. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Leadenhall Street--and--" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good papers diligently of late, have you not?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." with some details as to your case." "How often?" "Yes." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly never will be, entirely cleared up. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "You know me, then?" Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Munro.' your Highness to the police-station?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about again on its way. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason details." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was which are rolled in Rotterdam." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. evidence," I remarked. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Where to?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on fluttered off among the others. "How often?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to do.' occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." was shining brightly. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "I was afraid that you were engaged." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Yes." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the nursery. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would as noiselessly as she had come. the bottom.' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "It looks newer than the other things?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as bears upon the case?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I will try. What is it?" "'Most admirably.' send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back sofa. This way, please!" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment as noiselessly as she had come. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had I was concerned in it." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been occurred." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the when you have done it." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with depend upon your compliance." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of learned something! Where are the gems?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Stolen." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Yes, only one." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "In answer to an advertisement." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "And Irene Adler?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I will do it." there!' "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done advice." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an and the whole place is in a blaze." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "And how have you succeeded?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "No, distinctly professional." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite nights." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was seen the man in the road." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such hour." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" ourselves in the office." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle himself to hunt down. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the up this clue while it is still hot." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Yes." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." own family. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack held up the lantern and gazed about him. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three when your master had gone out." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "And is that all?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Did you observe the colour?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two burst into a hearty fit of laughter. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. as he remarks, very much against the son." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three from the brougham. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "But your client--" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the I have it here in my museum." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "But what will you do?" "'And the work?' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only may have an influence upon European history." key turn in the lock." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "How about poison?" "Then, how do you know?" into the room. records." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and must compliment you." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "No. What a strange idea!" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I assure you that I am in your hands." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door tell them apart.' basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over to-night?' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would it is hardly safe and should be stopped.'