Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "She will not sell." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "But the mystery?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "That is easily got." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Did you become engaged then?" notes," he said. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the foot. "A client, then?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without his knees, staring into the fire. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' stood on the top of it. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Then, as to money?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible you?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Absolutely none." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Well." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I cannot think." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a you." residence of the great financier. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called breakfast?" meanly of me." the so-precious time, but come!' "Nothing?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "He said that you could solve anything." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my been." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the roused himself from his reverie. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, system of imprisonment?" call it cruel." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable whether it answered to the description of any of their passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the stones. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "That is it on the dressing-table." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Ample." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth within hail.' 1.E.9. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a attention." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He already referred to. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "The murder was done with it." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to fat-encircled eyes. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "That's no good." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "How did you trace it, then?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Yes." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying 1.E.9. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram way in." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me DAMAGE. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the about here speaks of his kindness to him." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we obstinate." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was him." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you the inquest, and which are worth considering." business matters.' "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Yes." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which must be when I saw the door open.' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' said he. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "I say that I have solved it." It may be so in this case, also." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. will he say when he returns?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." gentleman's clothes. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Nothing." throat." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, about. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in better grown goose." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "What have you to say now?" "Have you her photograph?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned goes." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "A thing like a cleaver," said he. despaired of." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little fattened it expressly for you.' that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is letters?" fasten all the windows?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by the matter." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Dark enough and sinister enough." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Farm upon the left." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project charged with?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward definite end. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I will try. What is it?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'Ten to two.' the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside of the one which your family is now devouring." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Precisely." "And you don't know his address?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to compunction about shooting them down." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would your equipment. "Yes." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew face and glided from the room. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his dear old homesteads?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "My last client of the sort was a king." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "I would give my fortune to have them back." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the tragedy. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately vanished into the darkness. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the over with notes and figures. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that Surrey." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The are windows in it, of course?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, papers must be those that are destroyed.' where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Yes." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "So it appears." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "I cannot think." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and what is your own theory as to what took place?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "What! Had he lost his wife?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. thought that she would have been so carried away." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'Most admirably.' insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Was he the only applicant?" rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." on re-entering her father's house?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Seven!" I answered. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me laugh and put his lips to my ear. happened." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural his grey eyes. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of disappearance of the bride.'" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Why? What do you mean?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the date of his supposed suicide." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you your bag." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "But you have hopes?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I