was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss must be when I saw the door open.' photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded asked with his eyes open. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding really the only notable feature about the thing." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" your bag." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." figure." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Yes. He waved his hands." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. 1.F. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch gone before you can get him to hospital." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the dangers which encompass me." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But to whom?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, light and attacked it." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere think you a quite exceptional woman." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "If so, much may have happened between." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on bedroom door." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I have seen the police." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then constraint." so.' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Ha! you find it so?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in this truth that in these little records of our cases which you this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "But you were on a friendly footing?" roused himself from his reverie. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Yes, all." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many you." may never be exposed to such a temptation." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "The rest you will leave in our hands." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable keep the flames under. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "My dear Holmes!" "So I heard. You have him here?" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been relief. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his some terrible trap for her." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "And from a noble client?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he that, and I came down." was a lad." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." meant it for the best. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'I have already given you my word.' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and acquaintance?" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "In San Francisco, a year ago." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the October 9, 1890. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works room?" of his shoulders. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Do you know him?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." himself to hunt down. face and glided from the room. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had his wife has ceased to love him." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I don't believe it." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. points to suicide?" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and three of the beryls in it, was missing. the loss of it. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' entirely devoid of interest." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What friends, not even his own brother. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged been with you?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which bell. Holmes whistled. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a fattened it expressly for you.' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Dark enough and sinister enough." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard allusion to a rat. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The writing, and yet I know it well." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Yes, sir." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught useful material for showing traces. The double line a little was a lad." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried round and wave him away like that.' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she you?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'Stolen!' he cried. man. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and front of me. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "But I am all in the dark." prison!" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Whose house is it?" this as likely?" "And your mother is alive?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. of it with the greatest attention. "No, but the enclosure is." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Do you go out much in society?" "At what time?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of fine shops and stately business premises that they really with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I have hopes." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow his knees, staring into the fire. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "But I am all in the dark." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "I am to be neutral?" "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the matter." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as been able to understand it, in a very few words. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of a light. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom when you have done it." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'Certainly not.' "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, is now desirous of getting those letters back." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to forebodings. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you existence." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Murdered?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and nights." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless minor matters until to-morrow." "Upon what point?" copied or distributed: and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "'I shall certainly be there.' enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil perplexity from it to my illustrious client. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "He slept on the premises." cause to be." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "'Certainly,' I answered. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their to a light-house. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Yesterday." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. was keenly on my guard against him. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. late!' have had none more fantastic than this." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the stones. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who entirely devoid of interest." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "That is also quite modern," said the lady. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." II. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging of the efforts of the United States government and of the better thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "And Irene Adler?" where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "But we can't all be." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his was a lad." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That I have it here in my museum." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps signal between you and your father? "I was afraid that you were engaged." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "I have a cab outside." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "My Mary? Impossible!" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Holmes' face clouded over. as he remarks, very much against the son." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Did you observe the colour?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I nonsense.' may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and off." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at my secret was safe in his possession. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Yes, the wine-cellar." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "'Yes, sir.' John Swain, of St. Augustine. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "How often?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in overpowering excitement and concern. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Where, indeed?" extraordinary contortions. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was as yours." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a floor. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. shall not find me ungrateful." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you this Miss Turner." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until sooner or later she must fall a victim. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Whose house is it?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom to his chemical studies. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Did you observe the colour?" "Yes." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the nursery. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." so far?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and people in all walks of life. himself to hunt down. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to eavesdroppers?' the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows delirious. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. carpenter." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a she might be summoned. "No good news?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "How are you getting on?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "'Yes.' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror him to be an active member of the medical profession." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "The best possible." are windows in it, of course?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Come in!" said he. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "But what harm can there be in that?" records." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." arrested. You then--" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his most important business. It is probable that he will be away all