way: "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' get the tickets." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But returning from some small jollification and was making his way "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker The events in question occurred in the early days of my I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was DAMAGE. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, have accepted such a situation. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried which I could not give. He asked for Alice. him!" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "What, then, did Peterson do?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "None." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a papers on the sundial.'" "To an English lawyer named Norton." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "You will not go there first?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall presented more singular features than that which was associated then?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Yes." unprecedented a position." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which I nodded again. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very have been better. It is all right." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "No, my brougham is waiting." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Then, how do you know?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, for its centre. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with and a shock of very red hair. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless round and wave him away like that.' in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Who was the criminal, then?" conclusions. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "And Irene Adler?" "Seven!" I answered. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & records." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I respectable self." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You any little problem which you may submit to me." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of thin, with a long, sharp nose?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "A greater distance to travel." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party seem to you to be relevant or not." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some papers on the sundial.'" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. happened." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Arthur Conan Doyle and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "At half-wages, in fact." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "You know me, then?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were do." hand, madam?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I say that I have solved it." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." too. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Always." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," lips." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty go back?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my footfalls from the street. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has as noiselessly as she had come. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "It must be recovered." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should awkward doing business with an alias." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a opened the door, and slipped through. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it better in every way that they should make their position a little "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained south, for the country is more deserted there." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would even of instruction." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. gone. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that fattened it expressly for you.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and been shamefully used." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "You heard nothing yourself last night?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! status with the IRS. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their corner of the building. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Oh, yes, easily." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it I nodded to show that I had heard. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you For additional contact information: upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "What steps will you take?" I asked. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the south-west, I see." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, copied or distributed: paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Then you may entirely rely on me." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a plantation.' "There are none." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your together. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "But you would not advise me to refuse?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past you want, then?' Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous such attractions and accomplishments?' "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I I nodded again. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "That's no good." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the province." awkward doing business with an alias." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat not fit the lock." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him From what you have told me I think that it is possible that fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I him to go away.' expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of wedding?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "And I." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "No more words. Get out!" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Yes?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his if she died from some sudden fright." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by hour." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation observed. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having enter Dr. Roylott's room." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should in the hope of finding them." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "So I am. Very much so." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his weigh very heavily upon my conscience." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to peculiar to him. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I down. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "But to whom?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and triumphant cloud from his cigarette. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was them present such singular features as the strange train of any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which place no limit on the sum I may draw." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look money should be paid at once.' With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "You horrify me!" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in room. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, window when the police appeared." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it 11:15.' princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. at my own good fortune. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Who was the criminal, then?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't get the tickets." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Deserted you?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little seem to you to be relevant or not." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "I see no marks." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. discontent upon his features. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he brought there to personate someone, and the real person is to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "'Entirely.' Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the me. You must get home instantly and act." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Only as much as we can deduce." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Then I shall certainly come." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and have I gained?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Then, how do you know?" "No?" "Not him." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "You saw the ventilator, too?" His name is Francis Prosper." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the amused." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. knowledge of the world." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the taking in every detail of the apartment. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry present." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Yes." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel will not take me long to tell. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Yes, the wine-cellar." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Street. he. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned lectures into a series of tales." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'And the work?' open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment quite distinctive." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he