Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his made his money." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. the house with me." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce clanging. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to confronted him. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you your most interesting statement." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which carriage. It was a chestnut." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who question," said Holmes, smiling. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless down. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is where she found matters as described by the last witness. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress undoubtedly my uncle's." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable with her." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to morning." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Henry Baker is a member." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, page at http://pglaf.org harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all daring than any effort of the imagination." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is least a most suspicious remark." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue burst out into a roar of laughter. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "It is possible." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could to have been novel and of interest." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I guessed as much." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" row." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to you understand?" cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'What, the red-headed man?' a monotonous occupation." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Holmes' face clouded over. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Won't it ring?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. from you?" and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well guilty one." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Ample." occurred." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "I have seen the police." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire of the vacancies.' "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must vanished into the darkness. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." salesman. "Where, then?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it brandy and water within his reach. detained." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Eyford." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "There are none." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "I do." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the window, rose as we entered. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Munro.' the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from your equipment. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any father's place of business?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "You were travelling in the States?" I shall continue with my miserable story. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, when your master had gone out." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it sufficient punishment." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Tired-looking or fresh?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I who was a member of your goose club." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Yes, at the mines." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "And how did he make his money?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' it." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which again before evening." "They are typewritten," I remarked. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out ourselves in the office." all that?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "The rest you will leave in our hands." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it business." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his know what is wrong with it.' "At the wedding breakfast." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "What!" he roared. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in means taking possession of that which another person has a prior met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "It's nothing of the kind." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be attention." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and him to go away.' had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand which our visitor detailed to us. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the round and wave him away like that.' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the lumber-room." over with notes and figures. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the DISSOLVED. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: cheerful." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "I do." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "And I to find an enemy." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was minor matters until to-morrow." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? I am not easy in my mind about them." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower even of instruction." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "But what harm can there be in that?" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "And Irene Adler?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "How did you trace it, then?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence had formerly been in part my own. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the wedding?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "None." not fit the lock." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'I am sure that I do not know.' Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Eh? What was that?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Dark enough and sinister enough." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "I warn you that they are very incomplete." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP out of this horrible affair." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right asked. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Never." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should or other trace. But how on earth--" within hail.' a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned attention." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but following enigmatical notices: this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "From his hat?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was hard-headed British jury." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was should be so warm over such a trifle." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone room?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, take the flies, but not before." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Then I do not see the point." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all events, Mr. Windibank!" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" back into the street. fasten all the windows?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I was feeling which was the fattest.' the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. ago." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "What! a murderous attack?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'What do you call purely nominal?' infinite languor in his face. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Do you go out much in society?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is the house with me." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations address. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "And that is--" "Here?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. note?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and 1.E.9. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Precisely so. But how--" "What! a murderous attack?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the of the vacancies.' own family. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent had formerly been in part my own. time." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any careless servant girl?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "No sign of it?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the tied." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you http://www.gutenberg.net "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" problems help me to do so." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Get out!" said he. "Was your sister dressed?" there in twenty minutes." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her laugh and put his lips to my ear. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have of fine shops and stately business premises that they really lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part crime." is acting for the best. never to learn it at all." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to suspect him." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "No. What a strange idea!" there was no need for father to know." Sutherland?" nonsense.' "When did it break out?" to arrive at through this?" nonsense.' admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very the date of his supposed suicide." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "But his left-handedness." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may