the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Mrs. Toller serenely. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the ourselves in the office." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the not personally threatened." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to upon the sideboard." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, undoubtedly my uncle's." there was no need for father to know." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can away into the river." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in made him keep the appointment." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "To the police?" "Proceed, then." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of from you?" back to my heart. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident security.' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth little adventures." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" key of the affair now." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact meanly of me." maiden herself was most instructive." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Of what?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the warnings." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards searched, without anything being found which could incriminate prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, tension within him. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." I took the paper from him and read as follows: dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. gigantic client. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come in one or two places in England?' out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." you." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "'It is locked up,' I answered. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "And from a noble client?" before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us correct than the official force." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "It missed him, then?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned that you saw all that I did." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Quite so." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which suddenly upon us." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." friends, not even his own brother. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "It is half-past ten now." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a if she died from some sudden fright." my room." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was returning from some small jollification and was making his way "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and knowledge of the world." appeared upon the scene." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Absolutely none." direction." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all questioning and rather startled gaze. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my tell them apart.' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." signal between you and your father? "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Here?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Yes, certainly." read over the extraordinary announcement. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Her father is very rich?" security.' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a intimate personal affairs in this public manner." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The and your relations to her." it." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Which dealer's?' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "An enemy?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. mystery!" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Witness: It was. even so self-evident a thing as that." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "And what did you learn from him?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that way: rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Bought." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes, certainly." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet habit of advancing money.' cigars in the box." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the do." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the said I. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An breakfast." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" I am not easy in my mind about them." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I will get her to show me." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than problems help me to do so." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" back into the street. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded knowledge of the world." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears weigh very heavily upon my conscience." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "No, I had a dozen." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, to take care of herself." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the yourselves in at night?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do see me here to avoid scandal." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was where Mr. Fordham shows you.' test if we have an answer to our advertisement." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently guilty parties." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'You cannot say what it was?' made his money." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "It is possible." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "I cannot tell." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens posted to-day." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better province." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Murdered?" there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the details." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "And now?" I asked. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots me what he had done with the three missing stones. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "No good news?" official police." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more in his power. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "He disappeared so suddenly." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. cheerful." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "You have a clue?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. my room." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, telegram would bring me down to your help." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. there!' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "The best possible." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has have one." trifles." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "My dear Holmes!" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one happened." late!' "To ruin me." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event possible that we could bring him back to her? down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "There are none." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Very murderous indeed." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of if she died from some sudden fright." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Eh? What was that?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "What I expected to see." What do you deduce from it?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is papers." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'There is a drive, then?' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Not at all. I only doubt--' and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without will find little credit to be gained out of this case." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. fact, we may call it conclusive." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short and that he would see to anything that turned up. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. cigars in their mouths. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Was your sister dressed?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Nothing?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon with you?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward that there was nothing in it, after all." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a I shall communicate with you." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance for and were ordered to this address. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his least a most suspicious remark." hereditary King of Bohemia." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was him!" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "That sounds a little paradoxical." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late have got?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "There is the writing." speckled band?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Sutherland?" or other trace. But how on earth--" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no to-night?" I asked. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "The knees of his trousers." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE and a shock of very red hair. keep the flames under. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel on re-entering her father's house?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the with her." may never be exposed to such a temptation." place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I was mad--insane." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "But how did you gain them?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since crackling voice. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the fattened it expressly for you.' in the port of London." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "How about poison?" that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's salesman. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to enough to aid us in our search." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity,