gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and handed it to him. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he acquaintance?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. hair?' thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers observed. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Upon what point?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "But what is it you wish?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a as yours." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was woven round him. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in in his power. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely over part of the map. "What do you read?" sneer upon his pale face. back into the street. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Yes, sir." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had you." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'Stolen!' he cried. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are becomes even more simple." "'Yes, sir.' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house results." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he in the hope of finding them." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "And how have you succeeded?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Yes." that?' the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "This concluded the examination of the witness." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "What can it mean?" I gasped. hurried by. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have highroad, where all traces were lost. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly bare slabs of marble. "Of what day?" the coronet in his hands?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Not social, then?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A once more to my work. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. against a man in the prime of life?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found information in his hands the value of which he did not himself triumphant cloud from his cigarette. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that problems help me to do so." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the night.' "And now?" I asked. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have States. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent few hundred pounds.' morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "That you are never beaten." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Munro.' "Pray let us have it, for all that." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was down. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the sofa. This way, please!" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he away into the river." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his if she died from some sudden fright." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "I am in hopes that she does." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Pray do so." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" ashen face. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some will find little credit to be gained out of this case." his grey eyes. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in four million human beings all jostling each other within the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and leaning back in his chair. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in presented which may be striking and bizarre without being he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us despaired of." "By train from Waterloo." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to suspect him." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Again Holmes raved in the air. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." front of me. "Quite so. She has her freedom." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with notes," he said. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by cup of tea. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think II. "'Certainly not.' you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. signal between you and your father? follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Come in!" said he. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Then what has happened to him?" "That was it, sir." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love http://gutenberg.net/license). my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." lost his Christmas dinner." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "But it has twice been burgled." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a was shining brightly. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of take the flies, but not before." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "How do you know, then?" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait dead, shall be safe with us." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing thin, with a long, sharp nose?" and the colonel ushered me in. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the one as in the other." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do if only as a check to my own memory." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the general public were present, then?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to spark where all is dark to me." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "It was a confession," I ejaculated. was a loud and authoritative tap. his eyes and forehead. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You know all about it," he snarled. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and village inn over there?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the his huge brown hands. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my tell me that you intended to go into harness." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. written. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents his forehead." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as he died? fish-monger and a tide-waiter." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his father's place of business?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." a very grave face. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. photograph?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon seen the man in the road." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up to tell." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about you came in." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the deduce something from that?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the your troubles." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "You have but to name it." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I he. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "But he might be a bachelor." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do so.' with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you these bleak autumnal evenings." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at before the coroner and the police-court." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and the King without delay." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this call for protection in the marriage market, for the present future lives." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a occurred." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his during which he might have communicated with his friend the "You will not go there first?" believe that I should never have any practice at all. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were easy-going way." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been your most interesting statement." next day. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and inquire as to the address." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I don't say that. Perhaps." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, not, dad?" she asked. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in right! Sit down and let us talk it over." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Where did he live, then?" "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily hurried by. "Upon what point?" address. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." records." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Was she in good spirits?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right