intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain It may be so in this case, also." fluttered off among the others. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had is a common subject for conversation. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new will take you up to see the machine.' beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from to-morrow." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read attention." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It's nothing of the kind." "You have but to name it." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'Why that?' I asks. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "And for present expenses?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and investigation." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining of his shoulders. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." undoubtedly my uncle's." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "So I heard. You have him here?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with see a sister of mine apply for." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting yards of it?' other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "You have compromised yourself seriously." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "My private note-paper." "A client, then?" It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. investigation." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of all?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Only as much as we can deduce." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Here?" the station." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is hour." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "But how will you look?" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "And what then?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in think you a quite exceptional woman." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a in the dead of the night?' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." clang of the bell. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old some city in a dream. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'Why that?' I asks. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "On Monday." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Well." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are at a side door. "My Mary? Impossible!" "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and friend's singular character. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad night.' said he. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. him nearly every evening." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have started for the Temple to see my husband. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "And how did you verify them?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little Pool. gbnewby@pglaf.org "How did you deduce the select?" "And how did he make his money?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Did you become engaged then?" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "He said too much." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low someone who had been in Australia." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "What will you do, then?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." for its centre. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary particular state visit http://pglaf.org Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you call for it in person on Monday morning.' troubles have been weighing upon his mind. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and once more to my work. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than walking." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "But you were on a friendly footing?" very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my late!' other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." becomes even more simple." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his went to the Alpha were town bred." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Dr. Becher's." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "And Irene Adler?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his of Fenchurch Street." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. shall use the carriage to-night." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden developed." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Sutherland. "We must have a cab." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings promised to bring home. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'What would be the hours?' I asked. records." "To the police?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and what these perils are?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is weapon." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view developed." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully eavesdroppers?' Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, should be taken.' waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Not particularly." affair. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your down from London to inquire more deeply into it." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they useful material for showing traces. The double line a little description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window useful material for showing traces. The double line a little approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' behind me. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, that I can to serve you." business?" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong bird of prey. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit when your master had gone out." waste of energy." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "She will not sell." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the papers on the sundial.'" The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm suspect him." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In if only as a check to my own memory." place no limit on the sum I may draw." events, Mr. Windibank!" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his back alive. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," of this gang." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue at a side door. "Your presence might be invaluable." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a goes." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. upon the sideboard." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a better grown goose." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Never." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." to a more successful conclusion." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Look there!" said he. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Then, how do you know?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was himself in a perplexing position. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the examine." "Game for a morning drive?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since into the room. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "BALLARAT." The King stared at him in amazement. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who there!' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I am armed." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I am still in the dark." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she own family. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "To ruin me." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I late." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he I nodded again. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "We were both in the photograph." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "And how did he make his money?" awaited us upon the table. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'Certainly not. But why?' "Then I am your man." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, a suggestive one." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in or other trace. But how on earth--" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Ample." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I should like to see him very much." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with my secret was safe in his possession. through." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." kindly on the shoulder. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I both be extremely obliged.' were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "'Then let me do so?' "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have train from Paddington which would bring you there at about but preventing her from injuring another. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of other, as fresh and trim as possible. it. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Where is it, then?" been with you?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Why, what do you mean?" think that he is innocent?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy in this note: sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part dear old homesteads?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call him and tried to hold him back. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which presented which may be striking and bizarre without being