going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down in the hope of finding them." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. sooner or later she must fall a victim. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just do.' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "If I can be of use." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "And you can do nothing until then?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'I am sure that I do not know.' "And your father? Did you tell him?" "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. man. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I cannot as yet see any connection." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." wedding?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at that you can jump it.' violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time head. So long, then!" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry affection." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Precisely." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. infinite languor in his face. "But it has twice been burgled." followed. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him over part of the map. "What do you read?" business in the City. She little knew what. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "I will, Miss Turner." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and conduct the inquiry." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been strong reason behind." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "He slept on the premises." "The Coroner: What do you mean? King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Well." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Which surely he restored to their owner?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I am sure." tell them apart.' do." examine." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Of what?" "You are hungry," I remarked. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all and files of the old papers, following the future career of every but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I important." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "In San Francisco, a year ago." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring clanging. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "But his lameness?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "None." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he records." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up less than 26s. 4d. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "But to whom?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just we went to search for him, face downward in a little England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in are, and they are waiting for us." she might be summoned. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to States. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded gbnewby@pglaf.org It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Indeed! Whose, then?" were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "But of what society?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said which we had just quitted. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "But the mystery?" "Yes. He waved his hands." "It certainly sounds feasible." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "How did you deduce the select?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." wall." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager would then never go into court at all." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "And how?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "What have you to say now?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Certainly." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to friends, not even his own brother. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Was there a secret marriage?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Thank you. Pray proceed." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me DAMAGE. indiscretion." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that to some other building. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Was there a secret marriage?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the house with me." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. than was visible to me." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a outside. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "And you thought he was pulled back?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Precisely." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "'Oh, no.' "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." quickly through a disagreeable task. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since just called myself is not exactly my own." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work corner of the building. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "But we can't all be." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Indeed! Whose, then?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their system of imprisonment?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, business in the City. She little knew what. arrangements." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and there is a decided draught." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Was she in good spirits?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking with you alone." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "An enemy?" hands. better in every way that they should make their position a little he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a prisoner's face. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me yards of it?' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the jewels which you have stolen?' jewels which you have stolen?' Literary Archive Foundation carpenter." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper golden eyeglasses. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions question you as to those details which seem to me to be most relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Ha! you find it so?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "What is it, then--a fire?" "And how in the world did you find them?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss you in your example." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Yes." "Here?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Quite so. She has her freedom." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. nonsense.' came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how clanging. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "No." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open weapon." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A confronted him. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Where does the thing come from?' the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see generous with you in money matters.' ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt seem to you to be relevant or not." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "You are all wrong." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, seen the man in the road." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after other lovers by making love himself." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter there was no need for father to know." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed has little to do with my story." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Ah!" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "What then?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "The knees of his trousers." look upon these things in a different way." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon that there was nothing in it, after all." "My stepfather's business papers." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Yes, it was gone.' think, you have already met." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in be. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Very much so." prison!" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Yes." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my pressing in one house as in another. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I promise," said Holmes. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, little trying to do so much typewriting?" 'please.'" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Here?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email confronted him. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "You will not go there first?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads would apply.' The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss bell. Holmes whistled. pictures, libraries, or plate. and laid it on the table. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Oh, the cause is excellent!" leave you to your papers for a little." "I am to be neutral?" "I will do it." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "No sign of it?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that looking up at the numbers of the houses." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the driver. I held the little printed slip to the light. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over silent! Oh, he will be silent!' again on its way. of this gang." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from remarked. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover present." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the one as in the other." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "On Monday." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the chambers. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "We have tried and failed." congratulate you again." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "No more words. Get out!" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Mrs. Toller serenely. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "She showed me, as I told you she would." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put several quiet little villages up there." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the date of his supposed suicide." there when the Rucastles went away." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing had no one to advise her at such a crisis." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had me where it went to?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes that he will be back before evening." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to trifles."