might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the details." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: been able to understand it, in a very few words. "'Where could I find him?' least a most suspicious remark." "It is very kind of you." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me foresight and the moral retrogression?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "I will get her to show me." friends, not even his own brother. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Not yet." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was or other trace. But how on earth--" "Ah!" lectures into a series of tales." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De him, that man would not have given me such complete information "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the matter." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "What then?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I see many objections to any such theory." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and whatever might befall. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. chance at all." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "It missed him, then?" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Where is it, then?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Well, but China?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the before the coroner and the police-court." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a whole matter to your consideration." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. noble correspondent could be. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "And how in the world did you find them?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which we went to search for him, face downward in a little I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Yes?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "The Cedars?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" is a common subject for conversation. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, his forehead." conceal it?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I with you alone." cigars in their mouths. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right from you?" "'Not at all. I only doubt--' your equipment. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a threw himself down with his face to the pillow. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from daring than any effort of the imagination." "How do you know, then?" "Why did you pick him?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, felt?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where over here." least a fellow-countryman. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the coronet at all injured?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled him nearly every evening." "Where, then?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are overpowering excitement and concern. "How can you tell that?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Yes." as yours." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been beyond words. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault could not have written that. It is the German who is so snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Ample." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Then, how do you know?" the running down." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "But I am all in the dark." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "He might." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Witness: Nothing definite. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless out of this horrible affair." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Entirely." "He said that you could solve anything." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Thank you. And your address?" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to out of this horrible affair." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet behind me. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no more solid." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Pray tell us what has happened to you." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and or other trace. But how on earth--" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror into the bag, and made for the door. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself letters?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You on re-entering her father's house?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Mary, has deserted me." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which photograph?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, charge against him will break down." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire down from London to inquire more deeply into it." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a 'I should be able to look after that for you.' bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your union?" your most interesting statement." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Who by?" "Who was the criminal, then?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth out of this horrible affair." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This served to weaken the effect. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the iron safe, which he closed upon it. this unhappy family?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really over with notes and figures. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted the running down." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the as he remarks, very much against the son." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called face and glided from the room. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," cup of tea. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee eavesdroppers?' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "It is possible." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I cannot say that I have." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very than was visible to me." whether it answered to the description of any of their "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but anything to do with the matter?" should be so warm over such a trifle." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." village inn over there?" were wasted." "I came to find a friend." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one wedding?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the were wasted." that I can to serve you." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, prison!" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a telegram would bring me down to your help." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The and all of them with the keenest interest. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there conversation I have gathered that they have been married about The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'As governess?' very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and which it had come upon my father." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter questionable one." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which dear old homesteads?" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'And what salary do you ask?' "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Not social, then?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to direction." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The best possible." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "One of his hands." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Street. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man article?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a humiliation." "And how did you find out?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs arrangements." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he business?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "What then?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "On the contrary, this is the right side." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial gentleman's clothes. "It is half-past ten now." lips." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Miss Holder?" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to of receipt of the work. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Nothing?" situation." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us chance at all." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. that he has suffered." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "That is not always so easy." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth His smile broadened. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir village inn over there?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his it with his own hands." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "On your arm?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Absolutely none." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "How many? I don't know." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten envelope. less than 26s. 4d. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at ago." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I anything to a woman, for she would have her way." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the not come at once?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect where we are going." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which opened the door, and slipped through. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at