Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Street. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind your troubles." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a tension within him. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Never to return." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where likely to be some crony of the landlady's." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the his face. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they his grey eyes. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "His face fell immediately. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more this Miss Turner." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Holmes' face clouded over. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was during that time.' a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough down from London to inquire more deeply into it." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "By all means." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." train.' third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is you do it in twenty minutes!' in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." village inn over there?" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his opportunities to fix the problem. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers conclusions. "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled be sorry for having acted so harshly." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to whether it answered to the description of any of their "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and call it cruel." you." had died away into the silence from which it rose. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I particular state visit http://pglaf.org quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the so-precious time, but come!' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "What will you say?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "I will get her to show me." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately I. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord of the way of danger. fattened it expressly for you.' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "What is it, then--a fire?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to take the flies, but not before." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." companion imperturbably. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit fait accompli?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a writers could invent nothing more crude." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and least a fellow-countryman. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "'Stolen!' he cried. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but constraint." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "'Yes, sir.' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." to-night's adventure." within hail.' before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Yes, the wine-cellar." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Why? What do you mean?" outside. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife ventilator." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for asked with his eyes open. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "And the murderer?" "VIOLET HUNTER." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'What, the red-headed man?' "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." good for you to do.' "None." money should be paid at once.' call for it in person on Monday morning.' St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at presented more singular features than that which was associated "'I am sure if I had known--' diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your present strange and interesting features that it is no easy It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out in this way: anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the over with notes and figures. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front or in danger--" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Yes, sir." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'And the work?' "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I I think that I could be of assistance to you." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Where does the thing come from?' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in sooner or later she must fall a victim. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Oh, fresh and glossy." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Yes, certainly." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'Yes, sir.' man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before face and glided from the room. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'What do you call purely nominal?' the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'Very good.' smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. occupations.' as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." do you make of it all?" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in be sorry for having acted so harshly." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the pound a week." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to when your master had gone out." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "And the cigar-holder?" A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." skylight. night.' said he. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and answer." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations pierced for earrings?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was later, upon the night of May 2nd." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per miles off. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Yes, but only for you and me." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever as he folded up the epistle. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "What! a murderous attack?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Which surely he restored to their owner?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he better in every way that they should make their position a little and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are opened a pocket-book and took out a note. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple about here speaks of his kindness to him." just ask you whether you had heard it.' confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and which we had just quitted. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I say that I have solved it." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in shag which I had seen upon the previous night. maid will bring up your coffee." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my I approached. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel 'please.'" "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the I was concerned in it." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." yet." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many new acquaintance to Baker Street. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, to a more successful conclusion." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Not in a good cause." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in again, where I was soon asleep. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the address that was given us in the advertisement. "'Certainly not. But why?' relief. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "No legal papers or certificates?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all for the market.' "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone Street. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, had formerly been in part my own. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire to arrive at through this?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to been lifted and conveyed somewhere." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to answered with a sidelong glance. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation had a long day." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. acted in my house last night?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. crackling voice. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "'There is a drive, then?' "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true clanging. 1.E.9. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry fear." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "How often?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the