cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "What shall I do?" Sutherland. "Very. But will he see it?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his means taking possession of that which another person has a prior my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "That was it, sir." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, hair?' "No, finished." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this beg that you will break it off." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the to surprise her." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' I shall communicate with you." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "But what is it you wish?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no it means?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in there is a decided draught." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, status with the IRS. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a to a more successful conclusion." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "I should wish to." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I enough to aid us in our search." Pool. case before our client came into the room." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot more solid." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it McCarthy." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg depend upon your compliance." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be awaited us upon the table. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Come in!" said he. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Count Von Kramm." "Yes?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Nothing." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by of your young ladies.' much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Cross for the Continent." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with crowd. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been sentimental considerations in the background which would induce such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, direction." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down characteristics, but those are the more obvious." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I out of this horrible affair." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to weapon." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Holmes' thin, eager face. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "But your client--" such attractions and accomplishments?' just ask you whether you had heard it.' have I gained?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too have I gained?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just his face. foot. during which he might have communicated with his friend the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by point in the dark hollow of his hand. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed in the hope of finding them." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Yes, he did." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "But how did you gain them?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police mysterious end." "Stolen, then." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him could not account in any way for the presence of the missing red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might appeal." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "But what harm can there be in that?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "She told me to ask you." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. felt the room to be a little close.' present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, cigars in the box." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Lee, in the county of Kent." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Holmes' room. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Stoke Moran." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "On your arm?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," place no limit on the sum I may draw." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "My opinion is in no way altered." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else of the way of danger. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his do.' seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the his fortune, and I went back to pa. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "You did not overhear what they said?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one might help us?" families. Now for the facts. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If easy-going way." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have should be so warm over such a trifle." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Ten will be early enough." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, here and I will read it to you: and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for green of the new foliage. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so vanished into the darkness. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it within hail.' individual and becomes the badge of a society." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I him to go away.' one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for than to us. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt of fine shops and stately business premises that they really meanly of me." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the just ask you whether you had heard it.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of this unhappy family?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Yes, the wine-cellar." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and assist you in forming an opinion." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have hair?' dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "And how did you verify them?" "By all means." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Gutenberg-tm License. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As so far?" unprecedented a position." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the new duties?' "Pray do so." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded said I. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "He slept on the premises." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Very truly yours, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as just ask you whether you had heard it.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Your presence might be invaluable." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "How many? I don't know." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might papers." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently eavesdroppers?' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and to-night?' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "'In my own bureau.' he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came flock.' approach us with offers to donate. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my indeed happy." "And what then?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the dangers which encompass me." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. some terrible trap for her." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. heavy and sharp instrument." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with unclasping of his long thin hands. Cross for the Continent." third from London." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly there in twenty minutes." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Well, but China?" while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and call it cruel." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I populous neighbourhood." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "You think so, too?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was even of instruction." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the has little to do with my story." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the that, and I came down." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Whose house is it?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" never came back." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the like that before?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary all-comprehensive glances. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" guilty one." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. rooms." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." secret." looking up at the numbers of the houses." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. of the way of danger. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "And that is--" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." footfalls from the street. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the matter." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "And leave your case unfinished?" then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to opportunities to fix the problem. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch key turn in the lock." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and them?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can followed. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which man. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in residence of the great financier. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the at a side door. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a them?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Farm upon the left." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "No." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards,