everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Upon what point?" "That was it, sir." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "It is true that I have been generally successful." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." McCarthy's innocence. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE I. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. shoulder; "he's all right." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy this unhappy family?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very entirely devoid of interest." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see the salesman. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him this man was intellectual?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "But I have heard all that you have heard." tell me that you intended to go into harness." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind so far?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. wall." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or be best to do. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your once more on the important position which you have been fortunate each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you to-morrow." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, wall." already referred to. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six words came to my lips. handed it to him. taking in every detail of the apartment. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Yes." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Now, then, what's the last entry?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read imbecility!" he cried. said I. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that your own bird, so if you wish--" "About a month then." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the records." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he me. You must get home instantly and act." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical along the entire front of the house, with three long windows went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Eh? What was that?" "Very. But will he see it?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the business matters.' on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged I shall communicate with you." minor matters until to-morrow." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, might help us?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the 'please.'" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "And you don't know his address?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you place, I think that there is good ground to think that the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing way in everything. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such at home. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "None." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have families. Now for the facts. best detective that ever lived. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are to-night." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Was the window open?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "It surprised me." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet that I am arrested." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "You did not overhear what they said?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an woven round him. "I am about to be married." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "I would pay ten." "But you can know nothing of this?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for seven miles from Eyford Station.' you." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "But the mystery?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler row." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and like that before?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you has little to do with my story." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been neither fascinating nor artistic." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you not, dad?" she asked. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our sake, don't!" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. to-night's adventure." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "'It is locked up,' I answered. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "You are all wrong." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and the armchair which I pushed forward for him. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of you for a few hours?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." yet." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel confronted him. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'Yes, sir.' "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry province." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable chambers. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over that you saw all that I did." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Yes." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' noble correspondent could be. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "And the murderer?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that he died? day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the I approached. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Now, then, what's the last entry?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in furiously. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I to miss it." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still do.' unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we my former friend and companion. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the hopeless attempt at recovering them." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an and put his glass in his pocket. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have approach us with offers to donate. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "That is not always so easy." "I will do it." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both know what is wrong with it.' did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and observed. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Never." thirty. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "I will do it." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I am armed." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to for its centre. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Was there a secret marriage?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He with you alone." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "The Cedars?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Yes." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the so-precious time, but come!' "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." asked. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it tell me that you intended to go into harness." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which and looked back. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I will he say when he returns?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" are, I think, all that we need." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim which I could not give. He asked for Alice. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some not come at once?" "Eh? What was that?" best detective that ever lived. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the said he. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight over his head with a sweet womanly caress. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come yards of it?' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Yes." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City any." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Then the page we have seen--" "And you don't know his address?" "Precisely." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said business." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. from the brougham. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem or other trace. But how on earth--" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I was certainly surprised to find you there." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Will you bet, then?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to he. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Your French gold?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "None." garden below. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the pierced for earrings?" excitement. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was have got?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "You have the photograph?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, some water from a caraffe. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied asked. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a possible that we could bring him back to her? suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." said he. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all