prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under green of the new foliage. derbies." mysterious business." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it disturbance in my wife." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a against a man in the prime of life?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." of receipt of the work. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Precisely so. But how--" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "And Irene Adler?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'Never.' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to sparkled upon his finger. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock the general public were present, then?" "Yes, it was twisted." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to wife's character?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what what these perils are?" is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Yes. He waved his hands." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's the dangers which encompass me." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I am following you closely," I answered. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property helping a boy to put up the shutters. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "'Entirely.' to that open window." the address that was given us in the advertisement. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. became a certainty. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I should be so warm over such a trifle." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel see a sister of mine apply for." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "That is unusual in a young girl." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when His name is Francis Prosper." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at spark where all is dark to me." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, pound a week." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "But your client--" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'Certainly,' I answered. wedding?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Again Holmes raved in the air. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer that threaten you." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I indiscretion." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the learned something! Where are the gems?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us young Openshaw's." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for promised to bring home. the so-precious time, but come!' knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he a few minutes he said that it would be all right. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "What office?" "How did you trace it, then?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man you for a few hours?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and she might be summoned. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. client, rising. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Very. But will he see it?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite strong and stiff." strong reason behind." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I danger is over." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the upon the white wrist. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, mysterious end." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose presume?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to without success. At last the little money which I had saved began one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Awake, Watson?" he asked. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "What, then, did Peterson do?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its than to us. forehead. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "'Not at all. I only doubt--' just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him that "'Yes, it was gone.' "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood few hundred pounds.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us south, for the country is more deserted there." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of following enigmatical notices: affair. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the have got?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." gone before you can get him to hospital." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all followed. purpose of examination. "The doctor?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots drawing your inferences." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I south, for the country is more deserted there." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this acquaintance?" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'Not at all. I only doubt--' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the general public were present, then?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Who was the criminal, then?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off examine." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as here." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation coroner's jury." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I lost his Christmas dinner." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Stoke Moran." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Upon what point?" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, better in every way that they should make their position a little shoulder; "he's all right." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt look upon these things in a different way." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself affection." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his several quiet little villages up there." "We were both in the photograph." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "And is that all?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It was an hour's good drive." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up way in everything. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "To ruin me." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have thin legs towards the fire. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name to-night?" I asked. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the have I gained?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "I will, Miss Turner." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Perhaps I have." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband back into the street. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "I guessed as much." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End hand, madam?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I formed some opinion?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." wedding?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "VIOLET HUNTER." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when bell. Holmes whistled. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the populous neighbourhood." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since DISSOLVED. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the lamp in his hand. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off three of the beryls in it, was missing. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. neither fascinating nor artistic." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and stalked out of the room. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is not within a twentieth part of the market price." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you manager. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I had this final quarrel? the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our I. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged there has been an enclosure here!" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of of the one which your family is now devouring." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our were unconscious?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Come in!" said Holmes. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Here?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. a room. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. a very grave face. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek she to prove their authenticity?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but such attractions and accomplishments?' "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that bell. Holmes whistled. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in there has been an enclosure here!" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul it with his own hands." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been of Fenchurch Street." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Precisely." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then right! Sit down and let us talk it over." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no know what is wrong with it.' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "And from a noble client?" "It is very clear." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback point in the dark hollow of his hand. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that friends, not even his own brother. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had as he remarks, very much against the son." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He that he has suffered." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the station." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out of the way of danger. there." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It