"Did you become engaged then?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and entirely devoid of interest." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a wedding?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Yes, I have one waiting." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the matter." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, purpose equally well?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Well." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to despair." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. fashion which was peculiar to him. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." deduce something from that?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in would apply.' "Precisely so. But how--" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had exactly what you advise." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their to me. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "And I to find an enemy." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "But how did you gain them?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She and have this put in the evening papers." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "You have a clue?" think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is these bleak autumnal evenings." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands man. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of congenial hunt. "They are typewritten," I remarked. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "But how?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the friend's singular character. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Not in the least." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Sholtos." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous affair. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I married her." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Stoke Moran." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "My opinion is in no way altered." introspective fashion. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is retorted upon me, and I on you." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the matter?" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "'What then?' I asked. shaken than I had ever seen him. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "No, I am descending." "'I am sure that I do not know.' into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "We must have a cab." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'How far from the body?' "It came here." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in said he. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Holmes' face clouded over. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now became a certainty. brain must have something in it." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when became a certainty. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "About a month then." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at tightly behind him. I took the paper from him and read as follows: "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need three fields round his house, and there he would take his The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I don't say that. Perhaps." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless astonishment. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not footfalls from the street. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "And how did you find out?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the companion imperturbably. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay your Highness to the police-station?" step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul lost nothing by them." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Which surely he restored to their owner?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some not fit the lock." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and way in." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very my former friend and companion. upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the only touch the interest." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "But how did you gain them?" girl said." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can that there was nothing in it, after all." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" into the room. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons newspaper selections." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" papers must be those that are destroyed.' he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an bird I ate is country bred." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "But we can't all be." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I had a long day." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at good for you to do.' case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have way: "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Munro.' screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are back alive. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six the coronet in his hands?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with that could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one late!' Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Eh? What was that?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "But how will you look?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I warn you that they are very incomplete." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his in the hope of finding them." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the becomes even more simple." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you relief. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his occurred." me." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "I don't say that. Perhaps." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the stable lane now." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just shall not find me ungrateful." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend about. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to vague figure huddled up in the darkness. neither fascinating nor artistic." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I lost nothing by them." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be felt?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I notes," he said. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us I nodded again. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. I held the little printed slip to the light. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "You will not go there first?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and correct than the official force." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Holmes." "Then I do not see the point." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Thank you. And your address?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his name is different." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I vault. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. one else, I think." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached to-morrow." him, that man would not have given me such complete information happened." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I speckled band?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face ventilator." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "No bad?" set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "My Mary? Impossible!" insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing it." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. depend upon your compliance." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "I beg pardon." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that could not have written that. It is the German who is so not personally threatened." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be held up the lantern and gazed about him. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the discontent upon his features. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be a few minutes he said that it would be all right. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; threw himself down with his face to the pillow. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Really! You surprise me." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, said I. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we chair. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Street. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." over here." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Where did he live, then?" crime. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Nothing." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a