"Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking place no limit on the sum I may draw." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of danger is over." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' pierced for earrings?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was disturbance in my wife." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an that, and I came down." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "At half-wages, in fact." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest The telegram which we eventually received came late one night here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "'Not at all. I only doubt--' conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been this Miss Turner." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might cost them two and thirty pounds." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had vanished into the darkness. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was words came to my lips. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few electronic works rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is very morning of my second wedding." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of simple cases which are so extremely difficult." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now to tackle the facts." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the my friend's incisive reasoning. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel strode off upon his way. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their narrative." vault. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the so-precious time, but come!' "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Does that suggest anything?" "That is it on the dressing-table." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of the way of danger. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke that I may have something better before very many minutes are appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was companion quietly. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable detained." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch him and tried to hold him back. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are you do it in twenty minutes!' hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his where she found matters as described by the last witness. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." my friend's incisive reasoning. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same other lovers by making love himself." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great as yours." so.' God! What an exposure! What can I do?" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "I say it is." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Pray do so." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the stood on the top of it. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the Red-headed League." "And Irene Adler?" there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate kind enough to tell me what I should do." green of the new foliage. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had one's self under obligations.' the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not them present such singular features as the strange train of "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, him to go away.' "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." of your young ladies.' peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never business in the City. She little knew what. wedding?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton of them has the shutters up.' investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled and no precautions can guard against." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I thin legs towards the fire. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall once more on the important position which you have been fortunate in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'I am sure if I had known--' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "But I am all in the dark." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the ceiling. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'Tell me all about it,' said I. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From examination of the premises, but without finding anything which The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Perhaps I have." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he could not account in any way for the presence of the missing whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that chill to my heart. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a that, and I came down." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; round and wave him away like that.' Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "I will do it." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Ten will be early enough." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and said I. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third room had already been engaged for us. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the interest. They are important, you understand, without being is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "It is to him that this trophy belongs." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I know where it is." Henry Baker is a member." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a call for it in person on Monday morning.' or in danger--" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and laid it on the table. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "No more words. Get out!" abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your morning." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders I shall continue with my miserable story. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "And what did you learn from him?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "What, then?" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "My stepfather's business papers." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." happened." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in enough to aid us in our search." true." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." cigars in their mouths. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "One of the highest in England." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Ha! you find it so?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "She showed me, as I told you she would." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic me. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but your own bird, so if you wish--" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. that I may have something better before very many minutes are more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Lestrade of Scotland Yard." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "You saw the ventilator, too?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Proceed, then." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Precisely." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." The King stared at him in amazement. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Upon what point?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the coronet in his hands?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in in him." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." foot. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Where did he live, then?" "Pray do so." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "'As governess?' sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the developed." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. populous neighbourhood." the tragedy. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was hour?' the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Was she in good spirits?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I am armed." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call companion. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside heavily into it. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Always." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "About a month then." "No." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "'Where to?' gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. shall not find me ungrateful." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the opened the door, and slipped through. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "If so, much may have happened between." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by http://www.gutenberg.net "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Ten will be early enough." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a whatever might befall. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to