"Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "A thing like a cleaver," said he. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "And the cigar-holder?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his business?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his lips." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the compunction about shooting them down." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, to have been novel and of interest." disappearance of the bride.'" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." looking up at the numbers of the houses." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to spark where all is dark to me." to-night?" I asked. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, writing, and yet I know it well." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which London for the present?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the which it had come upon my father." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "It is half-past ten now." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make chair. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did the matter?" business matters.' Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind minor matters until to-morrow." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Entirely." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless strength." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. developed." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "And how did he make his money?" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. to change my dress. "It is possible." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be neither fascinating nor artistic." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "'What then?' I asked. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Yes, that is the Crown." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice perplexity from it to my illustrious client. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master had formerly been in part my own. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "You saw the ventilator, too?" stammered. "It came here." locked. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "We have tried and failed." down. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" works. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." someone who had been in Australia." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the cigars in their mouths. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco highly," said Holmes. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "What, then, did Peterson do?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who drawing your inferences." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Then, how do you know?" imbecility!" he cried. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands any more." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have fuss that is made over them." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Ample." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress crackling voice. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the that I can to serve you." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "We were both in the photograph." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have lumber-room." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre with some details as to your case." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were his knees, staring into the fire. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he not use it unless it is absolutely needed." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. to-night." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing voice. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense flock.' She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly all that?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of so far?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of were new raised from a basin. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "On Monday." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "That you are never beaten." arrested. You then--" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'Yes, sir.' exactly what you advise." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' discontent upon his features. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Texas, I think." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate about. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; you?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Come in!" said he. promised to bring home. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Imitated." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "But how did you gain them?" "'And what are they worth?' I asked. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of are windows in it, of course?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly take the flies, but not before." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Why? What do you mean?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were chamber." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. it." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Yes." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "And sit in the dark?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of you give your casting vote to?" as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Precisely." "He slept on the premises." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his fasten all the windows?" case before our client came into the room." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, of campaign. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Deserted you?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "You horrify me!" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the other lovers by making love himself." someone who had been in Australia." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You heard nothing yourself last night?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now was a loud and authoritative tap. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a train.' need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I British peeress.'" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "That also I could fathom." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It bonnet, and went out." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Yes, sir." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us them?" mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Ha! you find it so?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "'And the work?' "My dear Holmes!" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and points to suicide?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of them has the shutters up.' Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by the King without delay." at my own good fortune. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our that I can to serve you." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all which was all perfectly true. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was interested in these little problems, and since you are good money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'What, the red-headed man?' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were them?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' page at http://pglaf.org to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' was feeling which was the fattest.' humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about and that he would see to anything that turned up. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "'Stolen!' he cried. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so would apply.' January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "And is that all?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the