I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in in this way: drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Why serious?" up this clue while it is still hot." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Have you it here?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "But you would not advise me to refuse?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Well, but China?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the devil!" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and straightened it out again. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "But what harm can there be in that?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two said he. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I memory. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the there!' "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" went to the Alpha were town bred." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had possible that we could bring him back to her? "Yes, that is the Crown." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old together. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of had this final quarrel? all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing to some other building. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, papers." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: this man was intellectual?" page at http://pglaf.org lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "But his lameness?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Ha! you find it so?" you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "It looks newer than the other things?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a drove away. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the not within a twentieth part of the market price." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "The doctor?" introspective fashion. "What is it?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his these bleak autumnal evenings." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in words came to my lips. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and particular state visit http://pglaf.org orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as chair. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked been lifted and conveyed somewhere." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never gentleman's clothes. drawing your inferences." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "So I am. Very much so." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of directors, with the result that you have seen." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It's nothing of the kind." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If away into the river." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom over here." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End village inn over there?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. minor matters until to-morrow." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found What do you deduce from it?" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "ARAT," I read. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached towards the blaze. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of before the coroner and the police-court." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of are, I think, all that we need." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had been shamefully used." felt the room to be a little close.' "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "You think that he is dead?" of fine shops and stately business premises that they really A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging approach us with offers to donate. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Whose house is it?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past of the vacancies.' "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had newspaper selections." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not During two years I have had three consultations and one small do.' "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. sooner or later she must fall a victim. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I that you can jump it.' dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have your most interesting statement." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Heh?' no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate II. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I call you and give you the chance." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was have got?" Holmes' face clouded over. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which tell him that I know him to be innocent." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend me." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I his face. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might appointment with me for six o'clock?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little his face which made him a very different person to the round, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the despaired of." IS there has been an enclosure here!" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how new acquaintance to Baker Street. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been taking in every detail of the apartment. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "He said too much." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when of the vacancies.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "It is no ordinary one." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. morning." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She do.' started for the Temple to see my husband. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "What of the rat, then?" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Come in!" said Holmes. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Then what has happened to him?" daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "That is it on the dressing-table." fishes. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the I think that I could be of assistance to you." "You saw the ventilator, too?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round crime. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger it. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known there!' wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something http://gutenberg.net/license). have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of a suggestive one." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "It was an hour's good drive." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by words came to my lips. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was yards of it?' Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of round with crates and massive boxes. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "I cannot think." even of instruction." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week was used.' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he think that he is innocent?" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. should be taken.' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by be.' "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he recall any case within my experience which looked at the first story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "No." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in perplexity from it to my illustrious client. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for conversation I have gathered that they have been married about gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, residence of the great financier. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which really the only notable feature about the thing." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous call the police, let the police find what they can.' circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate morning." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and call for it in person on Monday morning.' single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Did you become engaged then?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing The King stared at him in amazement. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was horse could go." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes