or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my strength of mind to control. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked we went to search for him, face downward in a little us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "No, I think that I'll take it." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made your only hope of safety." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "The murder was done with it." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. http://www.gutenberg.net or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he highroad, where all traces were lost. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home derbies." late." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Yes, sir." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which felt?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he business." "And how did you find out?" discontent upon his features. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or to surprise her." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "What shall I do?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in peculiar to him. "I will do it." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried stalked out of the room. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at to a more successful conclusion." without a word or a look. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of meanly of me." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I will do it." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real II. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a heavily into it. mysterious end." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she me. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so said I. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "But how did you gain them?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London discontent upon his features. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to in his hands." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be constraint." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a in the dead of the night?' most interesting one." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "It is possible." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let was a loud and authoritative tap. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the events than those which have happened in my own family." trying to your nerves." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been tightly behind him. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one The police have openly confessed that they can at present make extraordinary contortions. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses for its centre. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut there were one or two details which were new to me. But the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "No, distinctly professional." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put down from London to inquire more deeply into it." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my out of this horrible affair." interest. They are important, you understand, without being in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Entirely." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "You are all wrong." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and throat." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "No legal papers or certificates?" telegram would bring me down to your help." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much is," said he presently: his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "I was afraid that you were engaged." redistribution. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a one else, I think." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Holmes' face clouded over. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "The Cedars?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I go from here to the Strand." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom congratulate you again." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry success. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Then you may entirely rely on me." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some call for it in person on Monday morning.' introspective fashion. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first opened the door, and slipped through. "Well, it is a possible supposition." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in States. asked. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. room had already been engaged for us. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying train.' both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "My dear Holmes!" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into do.' salesman. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and away into the river." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check evidence," I remarked. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "And how in the world did you find them?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." your troubles." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Where did you address your letters, then?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "And help." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. shall use the carriage to-night." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting stood on the top of it. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "I have my revolver," said I. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his at my remark. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Pray do so." writers could invent nothing more crude." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Eyford at 11:15.' retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some you came in." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "And you can do nothing until then?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the without a word or a look. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I was afraid that you were engaged." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the bell. Holmes whistled. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, is a common subject for conversation. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning results." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage John Swain, of St. Augustine. a good hundred miles off by now." prisoner's face. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a any more." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Mrs. Toller serenely. again on its way. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Perhaps we may make them less so." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have down in his armchair and closing his eyes. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "I beg pardon." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his lamp in his hand. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, she might be summoned. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of that, and I came down." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it narrative." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of This is what he says: down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Of Friday, June 19th." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest a little more before I quite committed myself. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my back into the street. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in formed some opinion?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The searched, without anything being found which could incriminate the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at bare slabs of marble. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you The King stared at him in amazement. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "A greater distance to travel." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "No sign of it?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making IS "'I have heard so.' eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to despaired of." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, careless servant girl?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of point our research must commence, and we will begin it by bird I ate is country bred." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "You are all wrong." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "'What do you call purely nominal?' astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS any." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of John Swain, of St. Augustine. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. them, and came down just as you departed. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Yes, only one." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking was a lad." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Here?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, address. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project only touch the interest." "Pray do so." closing the door. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his off." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his open." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "We were both in the photograph." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones that, and I came down." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "In which, sir?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and married her." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Precisely." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Then you may be so with me." "Thank you. Pray proceed." "But you have hopes?" matters immensely." the Red-headed League." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and horse could go." "But how will you look?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my someone who had been in Australia." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "I am following you closely," I answered. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "What then?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Indeed! Whose, then?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the