some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "You have it, sir, just as it happened." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable floor. had picked up in the wood. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he about. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "And Miss Sutherland?" said Mr. Holder. "That you are never beaten." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "If so, much may have happened between." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I eavesdroppers?' but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "It is true that I have been generally successful." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' absorbing." in one or two places in England?' increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was his grey eyes. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving ashen face. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But his huge brown hands. astonishment. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as wall." correct than the official force." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of works. See paragraph 1.E below. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do occupations.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'Yes, sir.' "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of wedding?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "That was it, sir." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "So I am. Very much so." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." becomes even more simple." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley was already answered. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Seven!" I answered. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "And your father? Did you tell him?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "You think so, too?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in were new raised from a basin. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Watson," he said cordially. gentleman's clothes. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this sofa. This way, please!" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long heavily into it. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and for and were ordered to this address. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk gone before you can get him to hospital." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Murdered?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." less than 26s. 4d. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "None. Neville wrote those words." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, hardly wander." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent outside. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, business in the City. She little knew what. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. these bleak autumnal evenings." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "This concluded the examination of the witness." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I was sure that I might rely on you." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "I will get her to show me." Chief Executive and Director sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in comes from the middle window." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would arrangements." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the date of his supposed suicide." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "I don't say that. Perhaps." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "She told me to ask you." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with before the coroner and the police-court." "Won't it ring?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Where, indeed?" writers could invent nothing more crude." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed call it cruel." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "I am all attention, madam." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the you?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "So I heard. You have him here?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Foundation "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Certainly." "If I can be of use." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to train.' We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in this Miss Turner." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Have you it here?" "It looks newer than the other things?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Where to?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, woven round him. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "That's no good." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her should be so warm over such a trifle." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "No, I am descending." his eyes and forehead. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch was keenly on my guard against him. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "And how did you verify them?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Pray do so." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that narrative." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "No." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of seen the man in the road." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." begun to whiten, even as mine has." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs with some details as to your case." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the matter?" that he will be back before evening." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "What steps will you take?" I asked. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and examine." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Precisely so. But how--" from you?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the foresight and the moral retrogression?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which indeed happy." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush is four-and-twenty." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not II. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a me what he had done with the three missing stones. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to she to prove their authenticity?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the upon the sideboard." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "And you don't know his address?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save For additional contact information: "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. room. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "But who is he?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the yards of it?' gigantic client. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon remarked. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "The landlord of the Alpha." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "I see no marks." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing your most interesting statement." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "So I am. Very much so." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "I know where it is." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "What is it?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Can I be of assistance?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take ran thus: unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the case before our client came into the room." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, the Assizes." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "I cannot think." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double writer." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" purpose equally well?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the disappearance of the bride.'" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the in. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'Yes.' took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" flock.' quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This like gravel from a pit.' I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, husband's writing, madam." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" prison!" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had shag which I had seen upon the previous night. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her official police." upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the coronet in his hand?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "What can you not understand?" house for five minutes.' our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "I was mad--insane." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same From what you have told me I think that it is possible that follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "No bad?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is been shamefully used." girl said." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Yes, they were peculiar boots." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He to some other building. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a