that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you system of imprisonment?" bare slabs of marble. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' were wasted." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From that I am arrested." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the ceiling. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone do you make of it all?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our definite end. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." one of them." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his said I. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." bird I ate is country bred." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." before the coroner and the police-court." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't there were so many in the whole country as were brought together fear." "I am following you closely," I answered. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of than was visible to me." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our vague figure huddled up in the darkness. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly washing it down with a long draught of water. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' tail." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King character. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" was a lad." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, results." for and were ordered to this address. might help us?" Holmes." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of business." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' three fields round his house, and there he would take his you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "By train from Waterloo." I am not easy in my mind about them." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook him to go away.' rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "It's nothing of the kind." true." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "What will you say?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped copied or distributed: immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "When did she vanish, then?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his as noiselessly as she had come. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the tragedy. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and he died? to have that photograph." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady he died? "Nothing." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, fear." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is this man was intellectual?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Sutherland?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement locked. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked or other trace. But how on earth--" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, off." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, salesman. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "And the murderer?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the I took the paper from him and read as follows: "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Yes, he did." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, strange features which were associated with the two crimes which to-night?" I asked. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my thought that she would have been so carried away." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went conceal it?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' works. See paragraph 1.E below. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you annoyance, but no jest. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that in this way: to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, putting in the horse. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Why did you beat the pavement?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled of fine shops and stately business premises that they really paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, is now desirous of getting those letters back." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as rooms." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Yes, it was twisted." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Certainly." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Sutherland?" When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Serpentine Avenue. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal geese which you supplied to the Alpha." true." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Has he come with you to-night?" coat-tails." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "And you can do nothing until then?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. forebodings. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As whole matter to your consideration." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "We were both in the photograph." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, you." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "It certainly sounds feasible." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "How long did she speak to this Alice?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger in the port of London." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal and your relations to her." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their him nearly every evening." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "No, but the enclosure is." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Then you may be so with me." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most good for you to do.' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us which it had come upon my father." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the national property. I was determined that the law should have its feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if wedding?" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I nonsense.' from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case the night.' thought that she would have been so carried away." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the matter?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. when you have done it." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, business." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "So it appears." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Not social, then?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Holmes rather sternly. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Yesterday." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had business matters.' "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "On Monday." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though is a common subject for conversation. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. case before our client came into the room." jewels which you have stolen?' "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper views." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step back into the street. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, peculiar to him. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "The landlord of the Alpha." business at Coburg Square is serious." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set have got?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and know that the truth is known." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who sit on the left-hand side of the driver." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "I don't believe it." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn some water from a caraffe. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in at my own good fortune. of his shoulders. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "We were both in the photograph." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Yes, the wine-cellar." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then there in twenty minutes." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate particular state visit http://pglaf.org backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I affair. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: row." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Perhaps I have." but preventing her from injuring another. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "I am following you closely," I answered. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture during the last few years, and there are many noble families to description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "At the wedding breakfast." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "You have a clue?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you