"Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "And what did you learn from him?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they fear." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "It looks newer than the other things?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Chief Executive and Director large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "I don't say that. Perhaps." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "How can you tell that?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to and no precautions can guard against." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "'Ample.' The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water hour." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Why did you beat the pavement?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the dangers which encompass me." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" power." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Certainly." the salesman. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden outside. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You will not go there first?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Countess of Morcar's?" down. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "It was." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Nothing." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is few hundred pounds.' any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Arthur Conan Doyle that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. know that the truth is known." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this taking in every detail of the apartment. held up the lantern and gazed about him. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Street. "To ruin me." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known matter over." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. gone. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'Never.' Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish must compliment you." sooner or later she must fall a victim. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his speckled band?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." than was visible to me." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used I was concerned in it." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had hurried away. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Does that suggest anything?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not seem to you to be relevant or not." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "He said that you could solve anything." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his swore that no one else had been in the front room during the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by from you?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view grasp, he hurried from the room. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." presume?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no opportunities to fix the problem. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "If I can be of use." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "And what did you see?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a other lovers by making love himself." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Pope's Court, Fleet Street." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "I was afraid that you were engaged." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "My dear Holmes!" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or such person." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I vague figure huddled up in the darkness. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before presented which may be striking and bizarre without being season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I said he, "my real name is James Ryder." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "It certainly sounds feasible." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the best of training." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the go from here to the Strand." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Who was the criminal, then?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of did not hear it also.' result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "I have solved it." business in the City. She little knew what. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call most interesting one." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should sufficient punishment." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a least a fellow-countryman. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Yes, the wine-cellar." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. your co-operation." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with past. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Was she in good spirits?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at had formerly been in part my own. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. wife's character?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the running down." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the in the hope of finding them." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Pray continue your narrative." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, again on its way. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the writers could invent nothing more crude." back alive. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "But she will refuse." jewels which you have stolen?' "Proceed, then." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Have you it here?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "And what then?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "That is easily got." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are The telegram which we eventually received came late one night has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from least a most suspicious remark." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would of Fenchurch Street." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the matter." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay national property. I was determined that the law should have its of." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Holmes' thin, eager face. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "But you have hopes?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the strength of mind to control. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Chief Executive and Director accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Yes." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the he. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "No good news?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Watson," he said cordially. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of some mystery and the punishment of some crime." will be renamed. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' bonnet, and went out." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "What office?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "No." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl in the port of London." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I assure you that I am in your hands." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "And how did you verify them?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been some terrible trap for her." fishes. "And Miss Sutherland?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "You heard nothing yourself last night?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his sooner or later she must fall a victim. undoubtedly my uncle's." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began that threaten you." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to quickly through a disagreeable task. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his were unconscious?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Precisely so. But how--" the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Holmes rather sternly. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or best detective that ever lived. allusion to a rat. "Well?" "By train from Waterloo." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'Where to?' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'Which dealer's?' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Whose house is it?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "No, finished." indeed which he could not unravel. to you." nonsense.' "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from lips." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out knowledge of the world." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the hard-headed British jury." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage over here." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "I cannot as yet see any connection." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "A greater distance to travel." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' remarked. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, colonel looking down at me. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Who was the criminal, then?" Lee, in the county of Kent." "How about poison?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "'How far from the body?' "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'Yes, sir.' "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. hands. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for weapon." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a your sleep?' eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went unprofitable." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Then I shall certainly come." "The landlord of the Alpha." and the colonel ushered me in. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation to take care of herself." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." problems help me to do so." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a them, and came down just as you departed. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Perhaps I have." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from use an arc-and-compass breastpin." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' good-night and bustled off upon her way. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "He is dead," cried several voices. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "And it is--" "I guessed as much." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to