Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a evidence," I remarked. lamp in his hand. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "What then?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty orange pips. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you 'please.'" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind with you?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with business at Coburg Square is serious." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Not I." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." his grey eyes. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further becomes even more simple." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Not him." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Arthur Conan Doyle They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and an introduction to him?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it For additional contact information: Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in maid will bring up your coffee." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Of what?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be best detective that ever lived. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "A call for help, you thought?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where The police have openly confessed that they can at present make tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "It missed him, then?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "How do you know, then?" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he information in his hands the value of which he did not himself it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, sofa. This way, please!" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of begun to whiten, even as mine has." the warnings." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, morning." it." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Precisely." extraordinary contortions. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect nights." "Only as much as we can deduce." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they means taking possession of that which another person has a prior what do you think they found in the pockets?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. do.' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I guessed as much." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her presented more singular features than that which was associated outbreak?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." I held the little printed slip to the light. "Yes, but only for you and me." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his my secret was safe in his possession. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "The best possible." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my my little problems." "And you can do nothing until then?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "'And the work?' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the coronet at all injured?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, undoubtedly my uncle's." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a take the flies, but not before." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, public press." quite distinctive." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds night.' said he. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of burst out into a roar of laughter. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Well, some hundreds of times." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "I say that I have solved it." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such over with notes and figures. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to III. province." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that come either from the window or the door. My attention was he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who washing it down with a long draught of water. gbnewby@pglaf.org shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "What then?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Then what has happened to him?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "But we can't all be." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Was he the only applicant?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Perhaps we may make them less so." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "I am sure." "'Yes, sir.' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I cannot imagine." to-night?' collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A cup of tea. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is voice. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "'And what are they worth?' I asked. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or During two years I have had three consultations and one small our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Holmes, the busybody!" matters immensely." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to outside. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "You horrify me!" dramatic, in fact." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it signal between you and your father? already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the chamber." gone before you can get him to hospital." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, quite distinctive." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at What do you deduce from it?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, when your master had gone out." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "I am all attention, madam." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon again, where I was soon asleep. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it electronic works as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "A client, then?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "In San Francisco, a year ago." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "It is to him that this trophy belongs." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" think you a quite exceptional woman." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "It's nothing of the kind." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Eh? What was that?" case-book, which he consulted. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Perfectly so." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while my room." in the port of London." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must legal crime." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must footfalls from the street. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "My opinion is in no way altered." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to arrangements." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the matter." legal crime." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Foundation the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as article?" Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Yes." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "My last client of the sort was a king." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's a suggestive one." Mary, has deserted me." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. that I can to serve you." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year secret." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally meant it for the best. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Which are?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge extraordinary contortions. over part of the map. "What do you read?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Pray do so." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your opened the door, and slipped through. to take care of herself." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Look there!" said he. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Murdered?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and and prosperity to your house. Good-night." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away get her out of the way." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Did he not advertise?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "And I to find an enemy." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." again." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by at a side door. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the DISSOLVED. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with case-book, which he consulted. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. there!' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but neither fascinating nor artistic." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it province." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Was he the only applicant?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "No." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Yes." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'Stolen!' he cried. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a