Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for figure." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of Fenchurch Street." back alive. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, young Openshaw's." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "I see many objections to any such theory." "I see no marks." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Could he throw no light?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident fact, we may call it conclusive." he bowed and left the room without another word. fluttered off among the others. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. next day. that he will be back before evening." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, bedroom door." corner of the building. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "I will do it." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner during that time.' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast clang of the bell. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Ah!" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Then he might have called to you?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds there in twenty minutes." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "And how did you verify them?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a your room." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. leave you to your papers for a little." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" have not had my rubber." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to have had none more fantastic than this." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to which should have the effect of calling the attention of the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it should be so warm over such a trifle." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. lost nothing by them." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich and files of the old papers, following the future career of every When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, several quiet little villages up there." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, out of this horrible affair." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. newspaper selections." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Do you go out much in society?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the stones. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "By no means." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, opened the door, and slipped through. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "She showed me, as I told you she would." shoulder; "he's all right." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. what is your own theory as to what took place?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution and it need not interfere very much with one's other pierced for earrings?" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must official police." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must than was visible to me." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" only touch the interest." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Yes, at the mines." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Not in the least." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my quick march!" acted in my house last night?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. For additional contact information: do.' "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "And what did you see?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" might have a private word with us. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a to take care of herself." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its that there was nothing in it, after all." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come writers could invent nothing more crude." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' quite distinctive." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be redistribution. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue train.' I held the little printed slip to the light. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain washing it down with a long draught of water. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back indiscretion." London for the present?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in where we are going." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I would give my fortune to have them back." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always future lives." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a advice." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Not I." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. towards the blaze. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Dirty?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I never have." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Precisely." "Deserted you?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears he bowed and left the room without another word. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to read over the extraordinary announcement. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, What do you deduce from it?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to II. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, prepare for the new role I have to play." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, on re-entering her father's house?" woven round him. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a strong reason behind." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his purpose equally well?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Yes, only one." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the During two years I have had three consultations and one small "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "And how did you find out?" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an go from here to the Strand." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between persecution?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is case before our client came into the room." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges helping a boy to put up the shutters. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Mrs. Toller serenely. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin third from London." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from bird I ate is country bred." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by his knees, staring into the fire. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Will you bet, then?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was look upon these things in a different way." matter over." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "'Ten to two.' dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, was it brought him the coronet? disappearance of the bride.'" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "It is a murder, then?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said anything to do with the matter?" "My dear Holmes!" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "My dear Holmes!" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely or in danger--" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Murdered?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Deserted you?" evidence," I remarked. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Come in!" said Holmes. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Pray continue your narrative." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have becomes even more simple." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah papers." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our late." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "I am still in the dark." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to on re-entering her father's house?" noting anything else of interest. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every despaired of." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a the coroner come to?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "That is possible." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "That is not always so easy." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." guilty one." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "But we can't all be." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Yes, I have one waiting." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of October 9, 1890. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you It was close upon four before the door opened, and a hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of with the outside air!" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Holmes." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." other, as fresh and trim as possible. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced where we are going." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was speckled band?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "No?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," was already answered. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened this as likely?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us Sutherland. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my crime." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "How are you getting on?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Nothing?" which we had just quitted. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial with you?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before that, and I came down." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "No bad?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and