"Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the sake, don't!" "The Cedars?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal ourselves in the office." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'In my own bureau.' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "You saw the ventilator, too?" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Could he throw no light?" maid will bring up your coffee." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like where Mr. Fordham shows you.' during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" imbecility!" he cried. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan friend's singular character. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would purpose of examination. October 9, 1890. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the Assizes." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Nothing?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot and have this put in the evening papers." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Could he throw no light?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler disappearance of the bride.'" Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "It certainly sounds feasible." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three against a man in the prime of life?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the be.' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open chair. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his as this. Pray let me have the details." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in enter into my head. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "And on what day did he meet his death?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been behind me. "Then, how do you know?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "He is still with you, I presume?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond footfalls from the street. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And why in hopes?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be could go. green of the new foliage. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "No, but the enclosure is." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the joking. them, and came down just as you departed. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "No, thank goodness, she did not." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that not fit the lock." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have this remarkable episode. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Sholtos." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that union?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the matter." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know disturbance in my wife." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "I never have." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "It must be recovered." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "I have solved it." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Two days later this same performance was gone through under and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "'Never,' said I. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Yes." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our ran thus: events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Never." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the could go. "Precisely." "No. What a strange idea!" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty official police." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Yes." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of away into the river." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Certainly." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the late." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to ran thus: by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and have been better. It is all right." room?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said morning." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation since then to throw any light upon what became of him." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Were they all fastened this morning?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of John Swain, of St. Augustine. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could late." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of you?' from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between The events in question occurred in the early days of my was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "How many? I don't know." "You are hungry," I remarked. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me lamp in his hand. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical me where it went to?" his eyes and forehead. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him him to go away.' the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the unclasping of his long thin hands. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows this as likely?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was with her." "Nothing." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the This is what he says: believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the green of the new foliage. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I beg that you will break it off." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "'I am sure that I do not know.' on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would pressing in one house as in another. not within a twentieth part of the market price." the address that was given us in the advertisement. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I will get her to show me." "But your client--" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin such attractions and accomplishments?' my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, shaken than I had ever seen him. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the station." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his was once confined in the cab my mission was practically as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had over part of the map. "What do you read?" weapon." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and from you?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across directors have had misgivings upon the subject." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he in the dead of the night?' the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying hereditary King of Bohemia." success. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss something of him before." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." you." Again Holmes raved in the air. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some against a man in the prime of life?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "No." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the and I shall be with you presently." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and depend upon your compliance." than to us. tightly behind him. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the morning and make my own way in the world.' place no limit on the sum I may draw." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "'I am sure that I do not know.' daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper said he, "my real name is James Ryder." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "And why in hopes?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Yes. He waved his hands." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a may never be exposed to such a temptation." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in giving me time to thank him. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Again Holmes raved in the air. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the questioning and rather startled gaze. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an had a long day." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my and inquire as to the address." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "But to whom?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door telegram would bring me down to your help." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "You horrify me!" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might been." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "He is still with you, I presume?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "I will not look." suddenly upon us." think you a quite exceptional woman." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in from the brougham. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush way in everything. fled together." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the