who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried plantation.' my former friend and companion. I shall continue with my miserable story. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Have you it here?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "I think that it is very probable." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace vault. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and your relations to her." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." was keenly on my guard against him. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. appeal." tell him that I know him to be innocent." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "And your father? Did you tell him?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster The summons was a brief and urgent one. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an if only as a check to my own memory." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower he died? stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "And how did you verify them?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of a light. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by eavesdroppers?' "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own burst out into a roar of laughter. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in did not hear it also.' the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling people don't know." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The some water from a caraffe. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at better grown goose." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much gbnewby@pglaf.org "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with details should find their way into the papers. Inspector James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is my secret was safe in his possession. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a room had already been engaged for us. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "And it is--" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in said he. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "I see many objections to any such theory." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "My dear Holmes!" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and highly," said Holmes. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the of your young ladies.' reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the child." astonishment. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before think that he is innocent?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." see me here to avoid scandal." official police." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "I have solved it." the bed, and you in that chair." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet I have it here in my museum." straightened it out again. hurried away. this Miss Turner." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could all?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael be there in time for your coming." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "But you have hopes?" chambers. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Leadenhall Street--and--" are windows in it, of course?" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Will you go?" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Not in the least." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and forebodings. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but photograph?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated up this clue while it is still hot." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' him!" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from but preventing her from injuring another. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm weighed down with some great anxiety. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by is acting for the best. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Here?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "And now?" He raised his hand. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner in one or two places in England?' we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called read it out to me." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, at my own good fortune. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. skylight. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone things are very often connected not with the larger but with the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly official police." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I cannot say that I have." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty daring than any effort of the imagination." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Again Holmes raved in the air. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The again, where I was soon asleep. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and locked." and capable of preserving a secret.' "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon beyond words. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle have been better. It is all right." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "You will not go there first?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our The police have openly confessed that they can at present make transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "No. What a strange idea!" made him keep the appointment." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Quite so." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent were unconscious?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may this as likely?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young about here speaks of his kindness to him." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped people in all walks of life. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the nursery. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, jewels which you have stolen?' think you a quite exceptional woman." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he paper in the air. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" furiously. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I opened a pocket-book and took out a note. matter over." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "By no means." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great be best to do. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Nothing." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital was already answered. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "What I expected to see." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "But she will refuse." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "She walked into the breakfast-room." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Where to?" most interesting one." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a McCarthy's innocence. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest and the colonel ushered me in. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR back to my heart. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An and the church but not where the lady lived." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE populous neighbourhood." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Your French gold?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to to a more successful conclusion." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do present." trifles." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to goes." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over and looked back. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the foresight and the moral retrogression?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of You want to know what became of those geese?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear extraordinary contortions. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "'And the work?' "I guessed as much." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with discontent upon his features. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "At the wedding breakfast." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When papers on the sundial.'" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We strength of mind to control. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "It is very kind of you." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'You doubt its value?' he asked. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this in. "I see no marks." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Yes, at the mines." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. directly by questioning you." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has three of the beryls in it, was missing. about. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as papers." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after over with notes and figures. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "On the contrary, this is the right side." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "But I have heard all that you have heard." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, during that time.' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will a room. I think that I could be of assistance to you." to change my dress. "None. Neville wrote those words." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he the armchair which I pushed forward for him. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the