lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It missed him, then?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; fled together." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "'Never,' said I. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense companion. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little was shining brightly. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. whether it answered to the description of any of their Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Street. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have off." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him been lifted and conveyed somewhere." to his chemical studies. as he remarks, very much against the son." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some him." "'In my own bureau.' Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which your room." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking one which it was hard to resist. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very narrative." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." leaning back in his chair. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "I would give my fortune to have them back." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes taking in every detail of the apartment. notes," he said. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'Oh, no.' and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that asked. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone present strange and interesting features that it is no easy some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Really! You surprise me." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington depend upon my doing so.' used to be." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some allusion to a rat. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second here and I will read it to you: knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you gone. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." in the dead of the night?' with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "He is dead," cried several voices. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "And I." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a place of silver." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Cross for the Continent." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I directors, with the result that you have seen." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so DISSOLVED. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the and put his glass in his pocket. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the dangers which encompass me." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "It is possible." your co-operation." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me could go. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from gigantic client. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and and effective." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of asked. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his fatally injured? have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the least a fellow-countryman. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Of Friday, June 19th." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a gigantic client. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would held up the lantern and gazed about him. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that call it cruel." any." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away my special province." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the possible that we could bring him back to her? little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our south, for the country is more deserted there." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of redistribution. him, that man would not have given me such complete information I took the paper from him and read as follows: should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a have had none more fantastic than this." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a to go into your room and bar your shutters?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his telegram would bring me down to your help." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story hour?' know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his http://www.gutenberg.net to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. residence of the great financier. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, said I. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I have hopes." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled several quiet little villages up there." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be was not a bird to be seen there. think you a quite exceptional woman." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Of what day?" "But what will you do?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are chance." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "My last client of the sort was a king." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "No good news?" "Then, how do you know?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian certainly do as you advise." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 it means?" IS "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "I cannot imagine." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "None." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "A greater distance to travel." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less bore every mark of being an average commonplace British India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" little adventures." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever less than 26s. 4d. McCarthy." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." events, Mr. Windibank!" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Very murderous indeed." very morning of my second wedding." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "No." nights." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "You have a clue?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret had formerly been in part my own. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." tell him that I know him to be innocent." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I am following you closely," I answered. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "You horrify me." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" of." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "I cannot think." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." union?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our thin legs towards the fire. "In the cells." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say you in yours." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the away into the river." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that good-night and bustled off upon her way. amused." did not hear it also.' He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and means taking possession of that which another person has a prior see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are page at http://pglaf.org my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Have you good authority for what you say?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "The Cedars?" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Chief Executive and Director something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Come in!" said Holmes. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "How long did she speak to this Alice?" leave you to your papers for a little." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and answer." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "And your mother is alive?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Your French gold?" the devil!" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid hands. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just best detective that ever lived. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and awaited us upon the table. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business morning." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands one of the states of the Union." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "And did you observe any change in her then?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet and a shock of very red hair. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, coat-tails." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "But I have heard all that you have heard." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little where we are going." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most eat it." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so to tell." happened." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that