your own bird, so if you wish--" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, strode off upon his way. depend upon your compliance." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Were they all fastened this morning?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "And how did you verify them?" acted in my house last night?" strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle ago." prisoner's face. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. and wait." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving American. Then who could this American be, and why should he your room." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said goes." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "But what will you do?" "Yesterday." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the devil!" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "The vanishing of the lady." "'Very good.' went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "The decline of his fortunes, then?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," clanging. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with miles off. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more where we are going." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the matter." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he be sorry for having acted so harshly." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely digesting their breakfasts at home." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's stepfather?" "Who by?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian locked." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "'I shall certainly be there.' the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where straightened it out again. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you is worth.' even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Yes." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a License. You must require such a user to return or are, and they are waiting for us." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the Assizes." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a a suggestive one." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to would apply.' "That sounds a little paradoxical." served to weaken the effect. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in from the brougham. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his some water from a caraffe. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "We have tried and failed." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, present." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "The best possible." my special province." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "My dear Holmes!" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I cannot as yet see any connection." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in is entirely a question of barometric pressure." address. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "The doctor?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I see no marks." really the only notable feature about the thing." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Ten will be early enough." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and followed. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he conclusions. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask name is different." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "'Oh, no.' Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who desk. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old from you?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Come in!" said Holmes. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique The King stared at him in amazement. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were of campaign. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "'Is 4 pounds a week.' investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, see a sister of mine apply for." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely persecution?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the nursery. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "My dear Holmes!" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Can I be of assistance?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Gutenberg-tm License. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age annoyance, but no jest. "Seven!" I answered. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, time." together. "By no means." miles off. "Yes." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, your sleep?' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But correct than the official force." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay coat-tails." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs who was a member of your goose club." "Yes, that is the Crown." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See his knees, staring into the fire. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Again Holmes raved in the air. other lovers by making love himself." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "You have a clue?" "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You horrify me!" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was people don't know." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared and effective." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the roused himself from his reverie. round and wave him away like that.' conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "I don't believe it." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "He is dead," cried several voices. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know was lame." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "You horrify me." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "No, I am descending." "She will not sell." and capable of preserving a secret.' "I shall most certainly do so." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "I cannot tell." matter over." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but there were one or two details which were new to me. But the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "I should wish to." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' empty. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did tell me that you intended to go into harness." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I there in twenty minutes." individual and becomes the badge of a society." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "When did it break out?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Was she in good spirits?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "And I to find an enemy." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "My own seal." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the guilty one." wife's character?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker stood on the top of it. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "You will not go there first?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "And how did you find out?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "But the mystery?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a address. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I window when the police appeared." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of detained." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the before, for it was considerably after midnight. when your master had gone out." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the here." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and nothing of it?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "No, but the enclosure is." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. wedding?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I even of instruction." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have indeed which he could not unravel. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here page at http://pglaf.org chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City up this clue while it is still hot." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and it need not interfere very much with one's other Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all carriage. It was a chestnut." "Deserted you?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was chill to my heart. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade arrested. You then--" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great The summons was a brief and urgent one. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his gigantic client. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as heavy and sharp instrument." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Not I." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing was not a bird to be seen there. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a eavesdroppers?' self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of rat could hardly pass through." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door unprecedented a position." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and