beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, article?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the and your relations to her." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Bought." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day legal crime." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of which should have the effect of calling the attention of the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a plantation.' him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "He said too much." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him to-morrow." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. over here." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "It surprised me." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to it? Did I buy the geese off you?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away said I. "What, then, did Peterson do?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the him. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "In answer to an advertisement." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "I am sure." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that my secret was safe in his possession. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set But Holmes shook his head gravely. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Stolen, then." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same of receipt of the work. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes very peculiar words of the dying woman?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you there when the Rucastles went away." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with and laid it on the table. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "They are typewritten," I remarked. "I guessed as much." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it salesman. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's carpenter." "I am armed." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On call you and give you the chance." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before derbies." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again married her." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "But how did you gain them?" "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "By all means." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs one of the states of the Union." excitement. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any it with his own hands." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we the coronet in his hand?" electronic works "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to during that time.' "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it time." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Yes." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "'Then let me do so?' and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "It was an hour's good drive." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who I was concerned in it." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my just called myself is not exactly my own." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that cost them two and thirty pounds." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "My last client of the sort was a king." the little opening for the ventilator is." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up James Windibank. Voilà tout!" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. the south-west, I see." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but will find little credit to be gained out of this case." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "She will not sell." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself II. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and papers on the sundial.'" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "She told me to ask you." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into pound a week." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "BALLARAT." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "It is very clear." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the salesman. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Now, then, what's the last entry?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the just ask you whether you had heard it.' "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down some water from a caraffe. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "9th. McCauley cleared. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." in darkness. "By all means." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end telegram would bring me down to your help." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman for its centre. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, chair. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was charge against him will break down." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the voice. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "The Cedars?" "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I McCarthy's innocence. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step my little problems." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in meant it for the best. John Swain, of St. Augustine. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish whether it answered to the description of any of their the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." For additional contact information: "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." writers could invent nothing more crude." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Of what?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative which should have the effect of calling the attention of the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was children over to America with him, so that I found myself without last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "And what did you see?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Have you it here?" "'I have already given you my word.' "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Do you go out much in society?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his arrangements." carriage. It was a chestnut." was used.' figure." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, His smile broadened. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Imitated." must be when I saw the door open.' face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "That is easily got." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" and your relations to her." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Ten will be early enough." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will McCarthy's innocence. in one or two places in England?' lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his that?' towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go during that time.' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "When did she vanish, then?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less held up the lantern and gazed about him. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few something of him before." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into three of the beryls in it, was missing. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the it with his own hands." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before certainly do as you advise." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I beg pardon." "'Never.' slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "You think so, too?" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's had no one to advise her at such a crisis." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the IS grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Of what day?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets and no precautions can guard against." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "I will not look." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry of Mr. Rucastle's." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my of receipt of the work. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his examine." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I came to find a friend." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "You are all wrong." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an been shamefully used." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of to affect your life." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "The King of Scandinavia." have got?" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. joking. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, one of them." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the matter?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Yes, he did." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our considering the formidable letters which were received by himself a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can