"'What are you doing there?' he asked. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in future lives." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "I think it very unlikely." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is know all about it," he snarled. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "'About the same.' wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Sutherland?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. arrested. You then--" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and present." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported strange features which were associated with the two crimes which then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." true." said I. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Oh, fresh and glossy." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your gone before you can get him to hospital." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after might have a private word with us. to his chemical studies. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily which are rolled in Rotterdam." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I have a cab outside." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the more solid." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of what these perils are?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! cigars in their mouths. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "To an English lawyer named Norton." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Nothing?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Yes, it would be as well." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Precisely." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the more terrible than the truth. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. chemical work which was so dear to him. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It burst out into a roar of laughter. skylight. are, I think, all that we need." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Yes." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Eyford." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Holmes rather sternly. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It not as remarkable as your advertisement." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter looking up at the numbers of the houses." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I yet." said I. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the so.' you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "I was sure that I might rely on you." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Countess of Morcar's?" from the brougham. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the bed, and you in that chair." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss here." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average to-night." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, death." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was so far?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story next day. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this that you saw all that I did." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere American. Then who could this American be, and why should he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "A confidential servant?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Here?" "Yes." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael to tackle the facts." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the is a common subject for conversation. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "I am all attention, madam." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the pound a week." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "And did you observe any change in her then?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. all?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "What! a murderous attack?" whereabouts. to-night's adventure." "And Irene Adler?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, important." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the character. him, that man would not have given me such complete information heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the thirty. kind enough to tell me what I should do." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant yourselves in at night?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his business matters.' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the Assizes." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "But it has twice been burgled." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in cause to be." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now weighed down with some great anxiety. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and before the coroner and the police-court." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could him. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "By all means." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and was a lad." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband there!' From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the returned to France?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such writer." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "It was." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "And your mother is alive?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Well, but China?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of looking up at the numbers of the houses." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Ample." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of be there in time for your coming." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I am sure." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to into the room. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how of a light. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "How did he come?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Not social, then?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "What steps will you take?" I asked. arrested. You then--" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "But how?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "A thing like a cleaver," said he. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang careless servant girl?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "'No, I know no one in these parts.' the dangers which encompass me." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, know all about it," he snarled. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Is he quiet?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began a suggestive one." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'Which dealer's?' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "And it is--" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Precisely so. But how--" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Breckinridge is his name." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Why did you pick him?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which writer." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "I think it very unlikely." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "It surprised me." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at The summons was a brief and urgent one. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "But he might be a bachelor." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted voice. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a get her out of the way." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "How did you trace it, then?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been DISSOLVED. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "About a month then." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the tragedy. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "I am about to be married." "We must have a cab." "Get out!" said he. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same thirty. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "The best possible." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a written, and locked the door of the office after me. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my is a common subject for conversation. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set grasp, he hurried from the room. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to chemical work which was so dear to him. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" copied or distributed: "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying she to prove their authenticity?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Ten will be early enough." "Very murderous indeed." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Never to return." "What is it?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Never." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "That is unusual in a young girl." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "And how did he make his money?" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" tightly behind him. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Yes, that is the Crown." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a