maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to upon a handsome competence. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "'I am sure if I had known--' drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the general public were present, then?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Dr. Becher's." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was figure." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high as the one I chose?' "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying in the hope of finding them." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly your sleep?' knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous ourselves in the office." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "No, distinctly professional." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "What then?" from you?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. used to be." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building instincts rose up against that laugh. "On your arm?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My himself. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "'A dozen yards or so.' is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. later, upon the night of May 2nd." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door man. I know him from the photograph." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but at my remark. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good him nearly every evening." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." companion imperturbably. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the nursery. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Arthur Conan Doyle reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything he. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "You have but to name it." "You have compromised yourself seriously." "But she could not love him." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." footfalls from the street. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "What will you say?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was coroner's jury." in the hope of finding them." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of brandy and water within his reach. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on compunction about shooting them down." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was directly by questioning you." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported strong and stiff." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear reach." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, prepare for the new role I have to play." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Just look it up, then." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood a little more before I quite committed myself. "'And the work?' "'Why that?' I asks. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Will you bet, then?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "We must sit without light. He would see it through the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just third from London." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "It is his hat." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my into her hand at the door and which lured her within their and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a tail." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "And why?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Yes, I have one waiting." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with together. definite end. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'And the work?' right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "I guessed as much." Heh?' "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into if I call to-morrow?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Thank you. And your address?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving attention." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "If so, much may have happened between." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve think, you have already met." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to case before our client came into the room." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was this as likely?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the loss of it. flock.' http://gutenberg.net/license). "'Yes, I promise.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." be. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his then?" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend and that he would see to anything that turned up. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in who was a member of your goose club." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute what these perils are?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and conceal it?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short more terrible than the truth. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." of his shoulders. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "And that is--" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the him, that man would not have given me such complete information convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four ways including including checks, online payments and credit card grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated question. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "This concluded the examination of the witness." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave fear." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly chamber." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in least a fellow-countryman. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches threw himself down with his face to the pillow. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the matter." know what is wrong with it.' public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked get her out of the way." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an throat." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the introspective fashion. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" I was concerned in it." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his sofa. This way, please!" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and orange pips. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly you." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "How can you tell that?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with attention." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. husband's writing, madam." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "When did it break out?" secret." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "'What, the red-headed man?' his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently open." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "BALLARAT." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful the child." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed I nodded to show that I had heard. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I behind me. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. and a shock of very red hair. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He as noiselessly as she had come. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "That was it, sir." she used." "No sign of it?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that to-night." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we might have a private word with us. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Very murderous indeed." that, and I came down." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see that you saw all that I did." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. furiously. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I will, Miss Turner." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales there." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may bonnet, and went out." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "You will not go there first?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work recall any case within my experience which looked at the first into the room. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Pray continue your narrative." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in bird I ate is country bred." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a there is a decided draught." attention." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I