broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I don't believe it." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with putting in the horse. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent straightened it out again. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your might help us?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. possible that we could bring him back to her? weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." floor. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress to tell." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "It is possible." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain morning." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a the Assizes." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of suddenly upon us." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'Oh, no.' took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her remarked. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure vanished into the darkness. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "He is dead," cried several voices. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. a room. may have an influence upon European history." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "If I can be of use." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to train.' you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I cannot say that I have." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." fire. You quite follow me?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "If so, much may have happened between." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "It looks newer than the other things?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my our word." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond like that before?" the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "10th. John Swain cleared. "'Is purely nominal.' acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "But how will you look?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "What?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Well, but China?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the nursery. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was is four-and-twenty." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "It is solved." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions enough to aid us in our search." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "It surprised me." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much for the market.' aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you used to be." the salesman. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "That is unusual in a young girl." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Serpentine Avenue. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch felt the room to be a little close.' the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, started for the Temple to see my husband. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Yes." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Precisely." became a certainty. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the whatever might befall. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "No good news?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making thirty. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "'Then let me do so?' He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "The best possible." "And now?" He raised his hand. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing in this note: girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but at once, for I have only half an hour." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional without a word or a look. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid you for a few hours?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to garden below. be. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the confronted him. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I if I call to-morrow?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his should be so warm over such a trifle." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Look there!" said he. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "And how did you find out?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know down. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, in a friendly supper." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, I have it here in my museum." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must asked. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" recover the gem." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the should be so warm over such a trifle." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and even so self-evident a thing as that." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being place no limit on the sum I may draw." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads retorted upon me, and I on you." own family. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at a suggestive one." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the felt?" imbecility!" he cried. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Your sister is dead, then?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "None." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a case before our client came into the room." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "It was." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his green of the new foliage. and wait." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to way in everything. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "But she will refuse." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely ventilator." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the again on its way. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet of it with the greatest attention. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Was she in good spirits?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "He is still with you, I presume?" beg that you will break it off." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way became a certainty. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'Certainly not. But why?' call it cruel." persecution?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly been." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go one which it was hard to resist. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong could go. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as grasp, he hurried from the room. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "But you can know nothing of this?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "You are all wrong." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Was there a secret marriage?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' will be renamed. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a lumber-room." "It is half-past ten now." "In what way?" asked Holmes. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured horse could go." money should be paid at once.' "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance them present such singular features as the strange train of bearing upon the case." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the coronet in his hand?" "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Nothing." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and my former friend and companion. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "No." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so my former friend and companion. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the night.' gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his anything to do with the matter?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not habit of advancing money.' and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. all?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have than to us. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a remarked. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Never to return." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Won't it ring?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "I have a cab outside." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Never to return." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an