word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of morning." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could asked. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the again on its way. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "But you can know nothing of this?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "But it has twice been burgled." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Cross for the Continent." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Have you good authority for what you say?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "The gentleman I describe." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "It is half-past ten now." meant." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered mysterious end." village inn over there?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his felt the room to be a little close.' window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said bearing upon the case." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Did your wife hear all this?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the King without delay." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies wife's character?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "No, my brougham is waiting." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to furiously. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not narrative." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them fatally injured? excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Cross for the Continent." over with notes and figures. which are rolled in Rotterdam." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is of them has the shutters up.' which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "'I shall certainly be there.' well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Not social, then?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "No, finished." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "When did it break out?" Sutherland?" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And not within a twentieth part of the market price." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, his cane at the bell-pull. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. if I call to-morrow?" case-book, which he consulted. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been I am not easy in my mind about them." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, During two years I have had three consultations and one small and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and seem to you to be relevant or not." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is pity, because in other respects you would really have done very said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is thin legs towards the fire. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he one else, I think." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching to go into your room and bar your shutters?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and a very grave face. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Never." a room. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There searched, without anything being found which could incriminate loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "None. Neville wrote those words." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I don't believe it." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. just called myself is not exactly my own." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "About a month then." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in all?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had conclusions. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Stolen." discontent upon his features. despair." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to tell." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in felt?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Where, then, is my wife?" the child." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Yes, it was twisted." to a more successful conclusion." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'Yes, sir.' nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of look upon these things in a different way." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." bedroom door." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, front of me. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "And what did you see?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. husband's writing, madam." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "That sounds a little paradoxical." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "And Miss Sutherland?" "Yes, from Horsham." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were questionable one." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident infinite languor in his face. bedroom door." orange pips. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" it." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Nor running a chance of arrest?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, generous with you in money matters.' her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Well, but China?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." in the dead of the night?' "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" thirty. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four train.' "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Mrs. Toller serenely. ordinary clothes on?" lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "'Certainly not. But why?' touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to him, that man would not have given me such complete information summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood the devil!" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "In answer to an advertisement." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "You don't mind breaking the law?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she husband's writing, madam." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the hair?' sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Witness: Nothing definite. see me here to avoid scandal." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Mary, has deserted me." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was perplexity from it to my illustrious client. horse could go." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "You'll never persuade me to believe that." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Pool. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a at once, for I have only half an hour." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "What can it mean?" I gasped. had picked up in the wood. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the loss of it. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too rooms." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must that wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." persecution?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is bled considerably." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you made him keep the appointment." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he For additional contact information: "How did that help you?" 1.E.9. "One of the highest in England." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Which surely he restored to their owner?" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his pressing in one house as in another. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Mary, has deserted me." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, light and attacked it." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "And on what day did he meet his death?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. shall use the carriage to-night." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me which it had come upon my father." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your figure." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the http://gutenberg.net/license). "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Did your wife hear all this?" "But your client--" least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "I will get her to show me." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small strode off upon his way. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' there was no need for father to know." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "'Yes.' "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "By train from Waterloo." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "He slept on the premises." me. had died away into the silence from which it rose. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the coronet at all injured?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Really! You surprise me." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Heh?' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "And from a noble client?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be but preventing her from injuring another. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great