questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Never." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Get out!" said he. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already ways including including checks, online payments and credit card What do you deduce from it?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is is so. I know all about McCarthy." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the matter?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported to have that photograph." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence cup of tea. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "You don't mind breaking the law?" words came to my lips. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a peculiar to him. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Miss Holder?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the address that was given us in the advertisement. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Then I shall certainly come." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that hereditary King of Bohemia." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Yes?" out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Not yet." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Project Gutenberg-tm works. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, without a word or a look. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, fuss that is made over them." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such was a lad." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "And on what day did he meet his death?" would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I am sure." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Two days later this same performance was gone through under obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in heavy and sharp instrument." to tackle the facts." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had confronted him. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Pray do so." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to http://gutenberg.net/license). beyond words. ventilator." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. go from here to the Strand." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "It is very clear." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest matter over." think that he is innocent?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Not yet." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got just ask you whether you had heard it.' I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to bird of prey. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring we went to search for him, face downward in a little and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and put his glass in his pocket. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my danger is over." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Munro.' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "But how?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you you understand?" do." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily mysterious end." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell the general public were present, then?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Ample." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Of what day?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the stood on the top of it. trifles." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should During two years I have had three consultations and one small "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. south, for the country is more deserted there." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "'I shall certainly be there.' 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm what these perils are?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a stammered. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, status with the IRS. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "'Never.' "My dear Holmes!" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "But you were on a friendly footing?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for had a long day." Mrs. Toller serenely. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Yes, he did." was a loud and authoritative tap. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "But you have hopes?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the helping a boy to put up the shutters. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Does that suggest anything?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There chemical work which was so dear to him. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Quite so. She has her freedom." "They are typewritten," I remarked. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Then what has happened to him?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get to talk it over. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "It is solved." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You see a sister of mine apply for." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your that before taking the final step I should like to submit the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson and it need not interfere very much with one's other Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her once more to my work. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to prisoner's face. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of nice household for a young lady." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a congratulate you again." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to himself in a perplexing position. "You forget that I know nothing about it." been with you?" acted in my house last night?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our everything which you would wish to know." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to points to suicide?" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "A confidential servant?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual to-night." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I passage and a tap at the door. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a looking up at the numbers of the houses." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and and looked back. union?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were was a lad." Watson," he said cordially. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "You did not overhear what they said?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. been." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his know what is wrong with it.' dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband be.' reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but reach." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "No good news?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly whereabouts. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed true." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "No, I am descending." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer hurried away. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew wedding?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "A greater distance to travel." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; maid will bring up your coffee." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Entirely." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Very much so." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled situation." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "I never have." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, photograph?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were triumphant cloud from his cigarette. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Never." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I am not easy in my mind about them." is a common subject for conversation. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them who was a member of your goose club." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. main points of my analysis." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room in the port of London." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main himself to tell his story. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried matters immensely." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." orange pips. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Where did he live, then?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a little adventures." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most 11:15.' however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources will he say when he returns?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "It's nothing of the kind." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Ha! you find it so?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when south, for the country is more deserted there." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the is now desirous of getting those letters back." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or from you?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. thin legs towards the fire. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face felt the room to be a little close.' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the quickly through a disagreeable task. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a