clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." crowd. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the Friday. Was it to be in church?" and all of them with the keenest interest. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "It came here." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "You think so, too?" strong and stiff." at a side door. the coronet at all injured?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at that I can to serve you." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Yes, there are nearly always some there." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the important." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think it." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." know that the truth is known." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a about here speaks of his kindness to him." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. several quiet little villages up there." are, and they are waiting for us." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The window when the police appeared." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon of." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch where we are going." "Precisely." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same an introduction to him?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since too. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the problems help me to do so." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'Never,' said I. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Have you her photograph?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their your own bird, so if you wish--" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the there when the Rucastles went away." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "There are none." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault to take care of herself." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that in his hands." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and nonsense.' his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he of it with the greatest attention. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project even so self-evident a thing as that." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would are, and they are waiting for us." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean figure." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Mary, has deserted me." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough I held the little printed slip to the light. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, chill to my heart. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "She showed me, as I told you she would." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Well, some hundreds of times." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for bare slabs of marble. During two years I have had three consultations and one small Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "The doctor?" "She will not sell." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and four million human beings all jostling each other within the you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Now, then, what's the last entry?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "It looks newer than the other things?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared village inn over there?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "One of his hands." "No good news?" "The King of Scandinavia." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his spare." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been discontent upon his features. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Was she in good spirits?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. were unconscious?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he present." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old wanted for ourselves." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to showing my impatience. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as himself in a perplexing position. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his spark where all is dark to me." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own investigation." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Will you go?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "No, I think that I'll take it." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for writing, and yet I know it well." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. letters?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "'Tell me all about it,' said I. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news meant." went to the Alpha were town bred." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Won't it ring?" "His face fell immediately. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "It is true that I have been generally successful." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "That also I could fathom." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these The events in question occurred in the early days of my who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." highly," said Holmes. retorted upon me, and I on you." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his to-night." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Absolutely none." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, floor. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, and inquire as to the address." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It manager. events than those which have happened in my own family." mystery may be cleared along those lines." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It six. Come in!" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the devil!" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about sake, don't!" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. held up the lantern and gazed about him. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, one else, I think." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at touch that coronet?' "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical entirely devoid of interest." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Then how many are there?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "We must sit without light. He would see it through the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who ashen face. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the from you?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He the roots. "But what harm can there be in that?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my here and I will read it to you: it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "You are all wrong." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is intrusion of other matters." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter said he. used to be." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the have accepted such a situation. "'And the work?' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Pray do so." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Well, some hundreds of times." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to of the way of danger. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and her also." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Heh?' 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "And how in the world did you find them?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, delighted to hear it," he said. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I would give my fortune to have them back." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with congratulate you again." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding standing smiling on the door-step. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "No, I think that I'll take it." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy and have this put in the evening papers." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue completely overtopped every other consideration that we both passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Never,' said I. that he will be back before evening." foot. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary upon the shelf for the interim." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are impression behind it as though a window had gently closed him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was crackling voice. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered again before evening." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Here?" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and occurred." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to