you." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in weigh very heavily upon my conscience." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and the whole place is in a blaze." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "My private note-paper." "Her father is very rich?" awaited us upon the table. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. bill, which interests me deeply." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "I think it very unlikely." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of if I call to-morrow?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor closely." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Pope's Court, Fleet Street." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each presume?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have experiences." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "The doctor?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it during which he might have communicated with his friend the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "One of the highest in England." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "And you can do nothing until then?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when and effective." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "And how have you succeeded?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Come in!" said he. "And who is her maid?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped of note-paper. It read in this fashion: doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Then how many are there?" followed. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Eyford." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked recall any case within my experience which looked at the first more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen a very grave face. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to him!" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though opportunities to fix the problem. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "At half-wages, in fact." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it cup of tea. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time persecution?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they such person." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled sparkled upon his finger. photograph?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and grasp, he hurried from the room. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. to affect your life." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I have a cab outside." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but danger is over." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "The knees of his trousers." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Witness: Nothing definite. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the Red-headed League." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Yes, I have one waiting." people in all walks of life. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. upon the sideboard." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Yes." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, his eyes and forehead. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Then you may entirely rely on me." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Well, some hundreds of times." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose I. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Yes." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. bled considerably." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told her also." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the already referred to. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Again Holmes raved in the air. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed meant." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Yes, that is the Crown." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed present." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "And that is--" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a in this way: it means?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man o'clock is it?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the hereditary King of Bohemia." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his cigars in their mouths. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in second." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Quite so." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at this man was intellectual?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some out of this horrible affair." even of instruction." the matter?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a that slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, photograph a cabinet?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can straighten it?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of heavily into it. someone who had been in Australia." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "He said too much." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "'How far from the body?' feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' conduct the inquiry." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have rooms." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Where, then, is my wife?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "'Yes, sir.' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "What have you done?" asked Holmes. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Has he come with you to-night?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "It is very kind of you." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "I have solved it." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "What are they?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous such attractions and accomplishments?' his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Watson," he said cordially. happened." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every not come at once?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "She will not sell." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'Where to?' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "That is easily got." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his call for protection in the marriage market, for the present and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Very. But will he see it?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "We have tried and failed." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you that I may have something better before very many minutes are believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle to me. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, even so self-evident a thing as that." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "And why?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am morning." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done noise which awoke you from your sleep?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian clanging. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed new acquaintance to Baker Street. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" business." "'Entirely.' work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he clang of the bell. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Always." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." wall." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went presented which may be striking and bizarre without being my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" charge against him will break down." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, three of the beryls in it, was missing. hair?' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "What then?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Look there!" said he. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "To the police?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was power." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Yes, I have one waiting." strength." "Yes." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough in this note: with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, think that he is innocent?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station.