The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt and capable of preserving a secret.' "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Watson," he said cordially. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. something of him before." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to highroad, where all traces were lost. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "And now?" He raised his hand. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Ten will be early enough." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Yes, sir." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "And who is her maid?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'I am sure if I had known--' straightened it out again. conduct the inquiry." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "What! You do not mean bodies?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the driver. felt?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'Yes.' who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I cannot think." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "'I am sure if I had known--' dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back learned something! Where are the gems?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just not fit the lock." and laid it on the table. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Very murderous indeed." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Not particularly." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the bottom.' "No." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, guilty one." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my without a word or a look. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the bottom.' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a it were putty." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. shoulder. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful him. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "She told me to ask you." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as questioning and rather startled gaze. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "It was an hour's good drive." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have his face. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united straightened it out again. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "From his hat?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the nothing with him." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the nice household for a young lady." "But who is he?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, at once, for I have only half an hour." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the imbecility!" he cried. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for way in everything. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached side. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Certainly." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which distinguish the words: minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always forehead. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you our word." to take care of herself." front of me. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, been shamefully used." "Yes, only one." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the clang of the bell. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that this man was intellectual?" enough to aid us in our search." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Do you know him?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been cause to be." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "I fear not." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your asked with his eyes open. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. open." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as yourselves in at night?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting and wait." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "But his lameness?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can salesman. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the side-table." "What! a murderous attack?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 mysterious business." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the one's self under obligations.' "Then how many are there?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and prosperity to your house. Good-night." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Munro.' the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Is he quiet?" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would tail." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "And that is--" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I charged with?" "How can you tell that?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I don't say that. Perhaps." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." never will be, entirely cleared up. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the companion. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "It is possible." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private strode off upon his way. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, had a long day." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Yes." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door mystery!" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a ceremony." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "One horse?" interjected Holmes. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you should be taken.' dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came front of me. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven up this clue while it is still hot." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to the house with me." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and think, you have already met." arrangements." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded where she found matters as described by the last witness. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have he. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "No, I think that I'll take it." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her fasten all the windows?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Of what?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, used to be." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "We have tried and failed." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "And now?" I asked. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of power." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Pope's Court. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "No, but the enclosure is." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "And why?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "But your client--" "No." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "No bad?" "Where to?" lamp. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the coroner come to?" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside right! Sit down and let us talk it over." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a business at Coburg Square is serious." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." in a friendly supper." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Of what day?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, was keenly on my guard against him. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another was it brought him the coronet? charge against him will break down." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. call the police, let the police find what they can.' form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the dangers which encompass me." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of showing my impatience. "Nothing?" house for five minutes.' villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up future lives." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the station." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer dates and names. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the public press." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement as noiselessly as she had come. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion means taking possession of that which another person has a prior down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." heavy and sharp instrument." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. outsides of the windows. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Yes, certainly." "My dear Holmes!" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. upon an income of about 60 pounds." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "You heard nothing yourself last night?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at over his head with a sweet womanly caress. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "But you have hopes?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which at my remark. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small enough to aid us in our search." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many invisible to me," I remarked. "Oh, yes, easily." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on key turn in the lock." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Then you may entirely rely on me." sooner or later she must fall a victim. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' vanished into the darkness. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with or in danger--" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the again on its way. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss come either from the window or the door. My attention was I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This delighted to hear it," he said. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a instituted." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Eyford." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "'Ample.' had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "But how will you look?" great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more