of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the mystery!" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged may never be exposed to such a temptation." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Absolutely none." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I would pay ten." later, upon the night of May 2nd." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that was not a bird to be seen there. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "To the police?" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "She walked into the breakfast-room." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I may have an influence upon European history." "There are none." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which suggested at once that there must be a communication between the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and papers must be those that are destroyed.' than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was face and glided from the room. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "I am still in the dark." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible then?" "One of the highest in England." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was drove away. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Surrey." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Precisely." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "10th. John Swain cleared. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of promised to bring home. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "A greater distance to travel." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the and put his glass in his pocket. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name girl said." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "And Miss Sutherland?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' his knees, staring into the fire. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a of the way of danger. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed possible that we could bring him back to her? "But how will you look?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Thank you. And your address?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang ordinary clothes on?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, look dissatisfied." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted The events in question occurred in the early days of my "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, are, and they are waiting for us." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it yards of it?' low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the business." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. then?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "How are you getting on?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he as he remarks, very much against the son." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Precisely." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived bill, which interests me deeply." enter into my head. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the Red-headed League." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the and capable of preserving a secret.' fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Precisely." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but My friend smiled. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "By no means." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "One of his hands." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated cigar and let me expound." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. some city in a dream. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the affair. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful already referred to. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "And how did he make his money?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "So it appears." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." your sleep?' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure affection." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I cannot tell." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'I shall certainly be there.' do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "How did that help you?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon and capable of preserving a secret.' would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Farm upon the left." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Never to return." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a begun to whiten, even as mine has." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under John Swain, of St. Augustine. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." morning." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp some city in a dream. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the will be renamed. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few gone before you can get him to hospital." "Then I am your man." "Yes?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than yet." "And how did you find out?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Entirely." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Could he throw no light?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry one which it was hard to resist. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning man. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the leaning back in his chair. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "That you are never beaten." "At what time?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "It is his hat." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "That is not always so easy." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Well, some hundreds of times." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an such attractions and accomplishments?' "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Have you good authority for what you say?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with fluttered off among the others. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been out of this horrible affair." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'And the work?' speckled band?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker name is different." the nursery. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been singular points about the case. What did the police think of the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something despair." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE http://www.gutenberg.net four million human beings all jostling each other within the vault. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into congratulate you again." "You have the photograph?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was tell them apart.' near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting thirty. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid for its centre. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. You want to know what became of those geese?" should be so warm over such a trifle." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers business." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Perhaps I have." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the other, as fresh and trim as possible. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the to-morrow." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs said he. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Then the page we have seen--" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the gone before you can get him to hospital." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'Stolen!' he cried. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in occurred." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit my little problems." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Just look it up, then." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had your co-operation." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and him, that man would not have given me such complete information from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the coronet in his hands?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind hurried away. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from locked." unprecedented a position." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "What are they?" "I should like to see him very much." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of