"Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Witness: It was. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Pray continue your narrative." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the house with me." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I was sure that I might rely on you." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. over here." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own him!" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "What can you not understand?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and his wife has ceased to love him." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "And I say east," said my patient. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again stalked out of the room. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "And Miss Sutherland?" constraint." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "'Oh, no.' the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "You did not overhear what they said?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Eh? What was that?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical trying to your nerves." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "But I have heard all that you have heard." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate handed it to him. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a companion imperturbably. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they tail." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." examine." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very presented more singular features than that which was associated which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, to-night." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Stoke Moran?" said he. tied." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "10th. John Swain cleared. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Which surely he restored to their owner?" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he ago." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange upon an income of about 60 pounds." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under rat could hardly pass through." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "When did it break out?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." your billet.' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black heavily into it. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if them present such singular features as the strange train of searched, without anything being found which could incriminate a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic during that time.' thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his out." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which of." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. 1.F. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Holmes' thin, eager face. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight emerged. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark The telegram which we eventually received came late one night who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'Oh, no.' the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. with frightened eyes at his accuser. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it During two years I have had three consultations and one small "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me discontent upon his features. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "No." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and for securing the situation." spark where all is dark to me." enter Dr. Roylott's room." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be anything to a woman, for she would have her way." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "What! You do not mean bodies?" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At exactly what you advise." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Then you may entirely rely on me." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the up this clue while it is still hot." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you chambers. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "And you thought he was pulled back?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, with some details as to your case." "Murdered?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap think that he is innocent?" "So it appears." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. once more. spark where all is dark to me." quite distinctive." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her any little problem which you may submit to me." affair. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, bonnet, and went out." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, shall not find me ungrateful." I am not easy in my mind about them." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but window when the police appeared." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really threw himself down with his face to the pillow. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I have my revolver," said I. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is be best to do. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "He is dead," cried several voices. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Surrey." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I nonsense.' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "No more words. Get out!" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'Certainly,' I answered. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Murdered?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the might help us?" be sorry for having acted so harshly." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Again Holmes raved in the air. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' It was close upon four before the door opened, and a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and tail." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he mystery." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the remarked. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of returned to France?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, woman." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A that the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Not in the least." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the and effective." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at for securing the situation." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I was not a bird to be seen there. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you next day. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged you in yours." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Here?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I would pay ten." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened just called myself is not exactly my own." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Why, what do you mean?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client relief. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Do you go out much in society?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "How did you deduce the select?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "You have compromised yourself seriously." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Was the window open?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an on re-entering her father's house?" the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a me where it went to?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case case-book, which he consulted. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm lost his Christmas dinner." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us over here." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Nothing?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I kindly on the shoulder. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Only as much as we can deduce."