with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a he bowed and left the room without another word. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and highroad, where all traces were lost. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Look there!" said he. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE these bleak autumnal evenings." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "But not more so than I to find you." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are his forehead." papers on the sundial.'" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what breakfast?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "No?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At correct than the official force." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Certainly." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the as he remarks, very much against the son." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in strong and stiff." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love for the market.' better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Doctor, of the paper and the date." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "A call for help, you thought?" "What is it?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while miles off. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "What of the rat, then?" and inquire as to the address." joking. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a corner of the building. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man you." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Were they all fastened this morning?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A at once, for I have only half an hour." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line coat-tails." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the corner of the building. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to bonnet, and went out." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer your most interesting statement." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to one else, I think." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did will find little credit to be gained out of this case." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could The note was undated, and without either signature or address. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and cup of tea. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Of what?" only touch the interest." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the experiences." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the general public were present, then?" "'I have already given you my word.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Is purely nominal.' you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my with some details as to your case." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too suggested at once that there must be a communication between the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United papers." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler again, where I was soon asleep. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become himself. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon next day. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon you." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who at my own good fortune. gone. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and in. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Which are?" could go. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Never,' said I. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Street. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and you found me to-night--and running through the front room she has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "And why?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "And who is her maid?" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at character. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen bird of prey. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would of the efforts of the United States government and of the better He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two congenial hunt. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a your sleep?' my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "What! Had he lost his wife?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down sound at heart." "And Miss Sutherland?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I breakfast and whispered something to her husband. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that very old mansion. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." too. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then occupations.' "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly page at http://pglaf.org hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "So I heard. You have him here?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from a little more before I quite committed myself. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Proceed, then." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the to surprise her." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, could gather together that I was able to avert another public column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found said he. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I everything which you would wish to know." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the washing it down with a long draught of water. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I your Highness to the police-station?" waste of energy." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in tightly behind him. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Yes, sir." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events not, dad?" she asked. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we gives a meaning to it." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I shall be delighted." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "It is half-past ten now." easy-going way." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the leave you to your papers for a little." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, daring than any effort of the imagination." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length were new raised from a basin. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Absolutely?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "I cannot think." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have comes from the middle window." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Eyford." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes I shall communicate with you." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. ashen face. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able it." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." what I may call a really hard day's work." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. have I gained?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without of Fenchurch Street." should be so warm over such a trifle." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Dirty?" "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And help." "That you are never beaten." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of and capable of preserving a secret.' besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always the iron safe, which he closed upon it. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "What then?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It was an hour's good drive." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. which we had just quitted. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less enter into my head. showing my impatience. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments salesman. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." and a shock of very red hair. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, questionable one." clang of the bell. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful three of the beryls in it, was missing. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis intrusion of other matters." friend's singular character. "But what harm can there be in that?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "I cannot imagine." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "No legal papers or certificates?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, This is what he says: thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, shoulder. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood least a fellow-countryman. rooms." was it brought him the coronet? creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging was a loud and authoritative tap. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" sooner or later she must fall a victim. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a off." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded off." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I leaning back in his chair. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not