1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Pray do so." system of imprisonment?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." pictures, libraries, or plate. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a on re-entering her father's house?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to very old mansion. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned enough to aid us in our search." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a call for it in person on Monday morning.' zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in coroner's jury." you." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far your bag." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "What! a murderous attack?" companion quietly. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Her father is very rich?" your sleep?' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Leadenhall Street--and--" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. interest. They are important, you understand, without being drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he said I. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "If so, much may have happened between." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "I do." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "But he might be a bachelor." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'What, the red-headed man?' while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he memory. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with tied." "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right that?' what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Witness: I must still refuse. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I warn you that they are very incomplete." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with opened the door, and slipped through. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains miles off. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my what do you think they found in the pockets?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is back to my heart. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the purpose of examination. "I assure you that I am in your hands." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "None." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to enough to aid us in our search." "What then?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical better in every way that they should make their position a little "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Pool. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her quite distinctive." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "What is it, then--a fire?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his your bag." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly seen the man in the road." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a upon a handsome competence. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "'Ten to two.' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here of this gang." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," disappearance of these gems?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was deduce something from that?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I new duties?' sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my of your young ladies.' mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Then I do not see the point." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The investigation." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that awaited us upon the table. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake digesting their breakfasts at home." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened forbidden door. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Then what has happened to him?" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had own family. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "That sounds a little paradoxical." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the morning and make my own way in the world.' of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been coat-tails." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "I shall most certainly do so." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be there." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in that I may have something better before very many minutes are and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my too. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most during the last few years, and there are many noble families to again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as there has been an enclosure here!" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened them?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and from the brougham. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored bears upon the case?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much the coronet at all injured?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a green of the new foliage. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or few hundred pounds.' "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom sparkled upon his finger. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project considering the formidable letters which were received by himself article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "That you are never beaten." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you careless servant girl?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "I am armed." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I upon a handsome competence. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Of Friday, June 19th." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend their singular warning or token before them when starting upon help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "We were both in the photograph." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and ourselves in the office." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found to change my dress. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss a little more before I quite committed myself. which our visitor detailed to us. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was you." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the as yours." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a is," said he presently: violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "'Quite sure, dad.' have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that right! Sit down and let us talk it over." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the works. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Holmes rather sternly. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should persecution?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch was it brought him the coronet? moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "But how?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Texas, I think." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "My photograph." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, cup of tea. highroad, where all traces were lost. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and brandy and water within his reach. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature business came to an end." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." power." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she that you wished to speak to me?' metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Then I shall certainly come." noting anything else of interest. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "No sign of it?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and once more for Briony Lodge. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. when your master had gone out." States. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in exactly what you advise." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the directly by questioning you." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the works. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. entirely lost his self-respect." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "'I have heard so.' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Stolen." will not take me long to tell. clanging. "I cannot imagine." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Lee, in the county of Kent." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to furiously. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "But you were on a friendly footing?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "If so, much may have happened between." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and gone before you can get him to hospital." extraordinary contortions. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather tear off another piece?' at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "What I expected to see." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but leave you to your papers for a little." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a mystery!" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and had picked up in the wood. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might is worth.' "So I am. Very much so." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." arrested. You then--" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to him nearly every evening." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and put his glass in his pocket. forecastle of an emigrant ship. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is acted in my house last night?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch I shall communicate with you." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "It must be recovered." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he could not account in any way for the presence of the missing opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. name is different." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always outside." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor been deceived." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Dr. Gregory B. Newby "In the cells." bell. Holmes whistled. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. rose-bushes. appointment with me for six o'clock?"