father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar not as remarkable as your advertisement." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first might help us?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Not him." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE correct than the official force." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to figure." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon business in the City. She little knew what. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the hereditary King of Bohemia." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this sparkled upon his finger. The summons was a brief and urgent one. way in." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this voice. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the such person." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having crackling voice. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "I would pay ten." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Not I." your only hope of safety." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." father's place of business?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a to you." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "No." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Yes." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "It may not come to that," said Holmes. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "None." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent the Assizes." "The King of Scandinavia." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell and put his glass in his pocket. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "But how?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike showing my impatience. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert figure." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently about. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten thin legs towards the fire. "You know me, then?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were manager. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me up this clue while it is still hot." any more." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in again on its way. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in did not hear it also.' out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as tied." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was someone who had been in Australia." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared on re-entering her father's house?" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "My own seal." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "He is dead," cried several voices. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged me have 200 pounds?' Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "I never have." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Miss Holder?" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to since then to throw any light upon what became of him." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it seem to you to be relevant or not." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the future lives." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more notes," he said. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next which was all perfectly true. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "That is also quite modern," said the lady. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, crowd. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through most important business. It is probable that he will be away all my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the Red-headed League." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get never will be, entirely cleared up. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "But how?" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without examine." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I think that it is very probable." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very my secret was safe in his possession. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. the inquest, and which are worth considering." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." respectable self." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I politicians who had been sent down from the North. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "The King of Scandinavia." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Nothing." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss noble correspondent could be. "So I heard. You have him here?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than been." "Well?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in upon a handsome competence. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Pray do so." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' trifles." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I should wish to." "How did you deduce the select?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who with some details as to your case." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to and have this put in the evening papers." do." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Yes, that is the Crown." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few writing, and yet I know it well." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "How did that help you?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'It is locked up,' I answered. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an or other trace. But how on earth--" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "That's no good." fasten all the windows?" problems help me to do so." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very question. think, you have already met." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return delirious. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Where does the thing come from?' Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Surrey." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster she has been waylaid. There has been no result." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Yes, that is the Crown." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek arrested. You then--" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a maid will bring up your coffee." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Certainly." friends, not even his own brother. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. one else, I think." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Then what has happened to him?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." your most interesting statement." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque made his money." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the one as in the other." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all reach." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "'Where to?' "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "A confidential servant?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "A thing like a cleaver," said he. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "You think so, too?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" must compliment you." despaired of." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "On the contrary, this is the right side." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at hour." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the date of his supposed suicide." purpose of examination. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. page at http://pglaf.org comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Of what?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" this unhappy family?" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "'And the work?' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal sparkled upon his finger. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "This concluded the examination of the witness." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" you?" least a fellow-countryman. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "In answer to an advertisement." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "No. His orders were to stay in the house." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "I cannot say that I have." was it brought him the coronet? Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "You know me, then?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering