retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "You horrify me!" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' when your master had gone out." as yours." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Pope's Court. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his could not have written that. It is the German who is so For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Very truly yours, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," politicians who had been sent down from the North. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in you give your casting vote to?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning States. emerged. My friend smiled. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "'Yes, sir.' "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and towards the blaze. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. at home. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Not I." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Yes, at the mines." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with charged with?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, people in all walks of life. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say me where it went to?" "A confidential servant?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I promise," said Holmes. voice. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. him nearly every evening." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Stoke Moran." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo observed. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the signal between you and your father? returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I that the gas is not laid on in his house?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "What are they?" "And Irene Adler?" "One of his hands." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Henry Baker is a member." "Frequently." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are cigar and let me expound." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in stalked out of the room. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a against a man in the prime of life?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said is a common subject for conversation. "But it has twice been burgled." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Not yet." "No, but the enclosure is." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "What can it mean?" I gasped. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." other means.' equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant with some details as to your case." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or may have an influence upon European history." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and against a man in the prime of life?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Yes. He waved his hands." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both had picked up in the wood. "BALLARAT." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the very morning of the wedding." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "And did you observe any change in her then?" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his been." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Is he quiet?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she said he. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. to me. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in thin, with a long, sharp nose?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, lost nothing by them." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "And did you observe any change in her then?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. redistribution. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled wanted for ourselves." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for there in twenty minutes." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. October 9, 1890. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new out." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" cheerful." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in third from London." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be behind me. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob crackling voice. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Whose house is it?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "'And the work?' Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders see a sister of mine apply for." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a indiscretion." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "My dear Holmes!" the coroner come to?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. a room. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Where, then?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Very truly yours, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of me, and I could not think that his explanation of the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "And now?" I asked. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of tension within him. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "No." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I nonsense.' furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the photograph?" what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had open." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, suspect him." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. late." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Yes?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the night.' again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "It certainly sounds feasible." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "It is very kind of you." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the King without delay." "I am in hopes that she does." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised throat." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "'And what are they worth?' I asked. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and just ask you whether you had heard it.' "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, already referred to. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? galvanised. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. easy-going way." "Won't it ring?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the meant." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this ready to-morrow?' "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from to take care of herself." but preventing her from injuring another. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Where did you address your letters, then?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little as he remarks, very much against the son." think, you have already met." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of weary and pale-looking. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is II. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "It is true that I have been generally successful." one of the states of the Union." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the back alive. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who discontent upon his features. "'I have already given you my word.' "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it to where he stood hid behind the curtain. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Chief Executive and Director Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "I cannot think." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. chill to my heart. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is in darkness. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Then he might have called to you?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for entirely lost his self-respect." appeared upon the scene." note?" "Yes, all." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would views." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the meanly of me." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the indeed which he could not unravel. interests were the same as his." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "'And what salary do you ask?' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "No. His orders were to stay in the house." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "And your mother is alive?" bachelor.' "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it where Mr. Fordham shows you.' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the bearing upon the case." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Come in!" said Holmes. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign the address that was given us in the advertisement. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "How did you trace it, then?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "So I heard. You have him here?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. nothing of it?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have for its centre. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The was already answered. "'Ten to two.' nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual already referred to. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but hair?' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a