been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some joking. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has chair. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "'What, the red-headed man?' against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions just called myself is not exactly my own." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is fattened it expressly for you.' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and relief. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer you?' should be taken.' furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "He disappeared so suddenly." helping a boy to put up the shutters. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "When did she vanish, then?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to excitement. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "From his hat?" going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of some mystery and the punishment of some crime." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a you for a few hours?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "How are you getting on?" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I beg pardon." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down had this final quarrel? error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is golden eyeglasses. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your foresight and the moral retrogression?" "You horrify me!" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "And from a noble client?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "No, but the enclosure is." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "No." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the very old mansion. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "My dear Holmes!" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Only as much as we can deduce." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Was she in good spirits?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "And on what day did he meet his death?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and coroner's jury." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the we went to search for him, face downward in a little Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm for and were ordered to this address. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the of the way of danger. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with in a friendly supper." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I was afraid that you were engaged." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were should be taken.' "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." manager. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "'What do you call purely nominal?' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "And I to find an enemy." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after troubles have been weighing upon his mind. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." legal crime." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" him. against a man in the prime of life?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without http://gutenberg.net/license). as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. companion. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Have you it here?" do.' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, away into the river." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with morning." man. I know him from the photograph." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly all-comprehensive glances. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on down from London to inquire more deeply into it." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, business came to an end." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Again Holmes raved in the air. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Breckinridge is his name." you want, then?' and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the once more for Briony Lodge. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic your co-operation." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't returning from some small jollification and was making his way the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now article?" do you make of it all?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." such person." as he remarks, very much against the son." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank certainly not very gracious." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily tell him that I know him to be innocent." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose Mary, has deserted me." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a should be so warm over such a trifle." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, miles off. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'What do you call purely nominal?' to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm had a long day." "None." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep fatally injured? of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "By all means." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "One of his hands." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short at a side door. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see at my own good fortune. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp here and I will read it to you: presume?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking tension within him. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in his power. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a man. I know him from the photograph." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, with her." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the driver. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Yes." been deceived." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Deserted you?" "'Quite sure, dad.' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce During two years I have had three consultations and one small was the fact that his father should, according to his account, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking you give your casting vote to?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such fire. You quite follow me?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them yourselves in at night?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I train from Paddington which would bring you there at about of the way of danger. "That is possible." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Will you bet, then?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand ready to-morrow?' chemical work which was so dear to him. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Precisely." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out clanging. "It is possible." "Have you it here?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered his huge brown hands. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I ways of our fellow-men." "On Monday." "I am all attention, madam." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, McCarthy." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I shoulder. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "And the cigar-holder?" His name is Francis Prosper." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin burst out into a roar of laughter. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil you?' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with in him." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He any little problem which you may submit to me." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had could gather together that I was able to avert another public contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Yes, certainly." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "A client, then?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a your billet.' "Then I do not see the point." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "We must have a cab." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the driver. he. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our guilty one." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I was mad--insane." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Yes." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent your sleep?' the bed, and you in that chair." "'Entirely.' you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "You horrify me!" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "I know where it is." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the nursery. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "And for present expenses?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the bottom.' graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking who was a member of your goose club." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which populous neighbourhood." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but outside. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Awake, Watson?" he asked. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached Leave Paddington by the 11:15." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, approach us with offers to donate. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Street. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a that fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Count Von Kramm." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. someone who had been in Australia." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and