would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Then how many are there?" there in twenty minutes." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. promised to bring home. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us some city in a dream. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." nonsense.' "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Do you know him?" DAMAGE. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Then I shall certainly come." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "This photograph!" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "What?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of indeed which he could not unravel. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover your Highness to the police-station?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a seen the man in the road." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method your sleep?' fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Then what has happened to him?" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from interested in these little problems, and since you are good us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." this as likely?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used him to go away.' Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." wedding?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he woman who has had her own way to make in the world. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her death." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which upon an income of about 60 pounds." ran thus: and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. correct than the official force." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "A confidential servant?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Yes, he did." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "We must sit without light. He would see it through the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was with the outside air!" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss nights." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Does that suggest anything?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might memory. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the chamber." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I shall be delighted." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I to me. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with see me here to avoid scandal." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray begun to whiten, even as mine has." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well carriage. It was a chestnut." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "So I have heard." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Ample." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "We must have a cab." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his certainly not very gracious." politicians who had been sent down from the North. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Ample." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "I know where it is." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Just look it up, then." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the King without delay." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the sofa. This way, please!" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to residence of the great financier. kindly on the shoulder. Eyford." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "And did you observe any change in her then?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Why did you pick him?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "That you are never beaten." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." the stones. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with tapping his fingers upon the table. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, upon the sideboard." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it following enigmatical notices: treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary in his hands." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "I will try. What is it?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your into her hand at the door and which lured her within their inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "But she will refuse." lectures into a series of tales." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage during that time.' I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and I approached. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Ample." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Breckinridge is his name." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into delirious. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There dramatic, in fact." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Did you become engaged then?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came mystery may be cleared along those lines." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch details should find their way into the papers. Inspector hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. held up the lantern and gazed about him. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the house with me." "My dear Holmes!" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "No, I had a dozen." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "It's nothing of the kind." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Murdered?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. you." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "I cannot as yet see any connection." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "And you thought he was pulled back?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say astonishment. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. conclusions. "But how?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the paper in the air. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in You want to know what became of those geese?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all I held the little printed slip to the light. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible papers must be those that are destroyed.' clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the flock.' landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "'And the work?' goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Why? What do you mean?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan towards the blaze. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I is entirely a question of barometric pressure." used to be." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door front of the hall door has given its name to the place. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's shaken than I had ever seen him. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with observed. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for enter into my head. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying back into the street. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Yes." "Here?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Was the window open?" knowledge of the world." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of towards the blaze. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Yes." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "They are typewritten," I remarked. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you then?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is page at http://pglaf.org streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "It's nothing of the kind." "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Have you it here?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it with frightened eyes at his accuser. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I pity, because in other respects you would really have done very civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a few hundred pounds.' started for the Temple to see my husband. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in business came to an end." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is just ask you whether you had heard it.' nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the armchair which I pushed forward for him. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Texas, I think." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I