Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "At the wedding breakfast." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his strength of mind to control. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "By train from Waterloo." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "'Yes.' smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me sofa. This way, please!" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "And how in the world did you find them?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a following enigmatical notices: other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from other lovers by making love himself." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my held up the lantern and gazed about him. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to said he at last. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "But what will you do?" round with crates and massive boxes. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we you in yours." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be introspective fashion. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "And the murderer?" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, quite distinctive." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "I should wish to." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' when you have done it." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. before, for it was considerably after midnight. was a perfect sample of the class. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there what do you think they found in the pockets?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "That is not always so easy." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of hour?' sneer upon his pale face. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is for the market.' gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Was your sister dressed?" with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying crime. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the rat could hardly pass through." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House to change my dress. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Perhaps I have." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no congenial hunt. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "How did you trace it, then?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether these bleak autumnal evenings." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard felt the room to be a little close.' I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "It is very clear." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "About a month then." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, certainly do as you advise." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and it were putty." there has been an enclosure here!" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am photograph?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one tear off another piece?' scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Pope's Court. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young breakfast?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "My private note-paper." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "But how?" fled together." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my DAMAGE. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Yesterday." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should congratulate you again." handed it to him. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "But his left-handedness." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per open." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property seen the man in the road." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Holmes." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us what is your own theory as to what took place?" Street. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and this poor creature." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Perhaps we may make them less so." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "But she could not love him." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He have established a very serious case against the son of the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if very morning of my second wedding." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further bird I ate is country bred." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" green of the new foliage. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." floor. is worth.' man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was test if we have an answer to our advertisement." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "What then?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But it has twice been burgled." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Thank you. And your address?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Thank you. And your address?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, Heh?' as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the bed, and you in that chair." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. business?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'Not at all. I only doubt--' the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "And you can do nothing until then?" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To own family. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. had died away into the silence from which it rose. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "The rest you will leave in our hands." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Eyford." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far just ask you whether you had heard it.' would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Never." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "What are they?" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." off." photograph?" "This photograph!" and glanced through. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "You don't mind breaking the law?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "How did you deduce the select?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The should be taken.' produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any public press." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Come in!" said Holmes. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Does that suggest anything?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United with frightened eyes at his accuser. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had that be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "The gentleman I describe." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the of Mr. Rucastle's." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had matter." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so furiously. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, dates and names. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour or other trace. But how on earth--" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with wife's character?" best detective that ever lived. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'And the work?' At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'A dozen yards or so.' "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Holmes." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out meanly of me." writers could invent nothing more crude." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "And how did he make his money?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the again, where I was soon asleep. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the ordinary clothes on?" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was written. "When did she vanish, then?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a not personally threatened." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant interested in these little problems, and since you are good 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation one which it was hard to resist. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "But we can't all be." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table 'please.'" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Count Von Kramm." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may