the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, breakfast." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are fluttered off among the others. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Does that suggest anything?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of what I may call a really hard day's work." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty empty. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Absolutely?" "But she could not love him." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with have got?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a me." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'What are you doing there?' he asked. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel existence." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one asked. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked and shall probably return to London by the evening train." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Just look it up, then." you." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite shall not find me ungrateful." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." brandy and water within his reach. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Certainly." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to out of this horrible affair." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Nothing?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the one else, I think." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just in the port of London." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, papers must be those that are destroyed.' at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem me. You must get home instantly and act." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. shoulder. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to is now desirous of getting those letters back." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the tragedy. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I said I. taking in every detail of the apartment. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Her father is very rich?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would interested in these little problems, and since you are good already referred to. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "So I have heard." the stable lane now." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, call you and give you the chance." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend populous neighbourhood." might help us?" earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can her also." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "How on earth--" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "But your client--" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be spare." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now The King stared at him in amazement. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "And Miss Sutherland?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "And who is her maid?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you works. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. held up the lantern and gazed about him. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his me have 200 pounds?' me upon any point which I do not make clear." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Yes." "So it appears." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it my little problems." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "You think that he is dead?" after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the door?" "Not I." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "You saw the ventilator, too?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Certainly not. But why?' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. dates and names. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I thirty. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. woman." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at these bleak autumnal evenings." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Oh, yes, easily." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Precisely so. But how--" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction here." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Yes, certainly." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it of note-paper. It read in this fashion: to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE power." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Mary, has deserted me." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has might have a private word with us. my room." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "When did she vanish, then?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Breckinridge is his name." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "'What are you doing there?' he asked. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" straightened it out again. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "But you were on a friendly footing?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Mrs. Toller serenely. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. pictures, libraries, or plate. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these could not account in any way for the presence of the missing married her." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his man. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an to arrive at through this?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Clair, of Lee." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of three fields round his house, and there he would take his way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for chemical work which was so dear to him. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, train.' could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had would apply.' train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the coronet in his hands?" up this clue while it is still hot." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would thirty. direction." help us in this matter." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "And your mother is alive?" looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Very. But will he see it?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Where, indeed?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, answer." nonsense.' serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for next day. waste of energy." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From straightened it out again. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn society." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'You cannot say what it was?' business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact this unhappy family?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able been able to understand it, in a very few words. remarked. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'Yes, I promise.' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what frequently gained my first real insight into the character of glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him feature." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I answered that I had not. the child." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual taking in every detail of the apartment. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility perplexity from it to my illustrious client. cause to be." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when taking in every detail of the apartment. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them sake, don't!" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham sooner or later she must fall a victim. was a lad." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "But how did you gain them?" conduct the inquiry." "Ten will be early enough." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Your sister is dead, then?" "Did you become engaged then?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable beg that you will break it off." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he http://www.gutenberg.net "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "And Irene Adler?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Ah!" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK http://www.gutenberg.net it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no was once confined in the cab my mission was practically that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Imitated." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." delighted to hear it," he said. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very him. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for prove to be little relation between the different incidents of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about this remarkable episode. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had question. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Ah, but I was recommended to you." awaited us upon the table. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the inner apartment." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Then he might have called to you?" "If so, much may have happened between." "You have carte blanche." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. became a certainty. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Pray be precise as to details," said he. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most