national property. I was determined that the law should have its instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Nothing?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain she slowly sank and died without having recovered her him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Of what?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and writers could invent nothing more crude." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. speckled band?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' long narrative. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "An accident, I presume?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side depend upon your compliance." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have developed." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his waste of energy." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from call for it in person on Monday morning.' it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only business?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough standing smiling on the door-step. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and shall probably return to London by the evening train." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "That sounds a little paradoxical." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City stalked out of the room. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "In heaven's name, what for?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "But how did you gain them?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Then you may be so with me." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." see a sister of mine apply for." the night.' upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the Assizes." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "None." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "We were both in the photograph." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "That's no good." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This in the port of London." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted chance." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us one or two very singular points about this room. For example, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for outbreak?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left roused himself from his reverie. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "And why?" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a definite end. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she him." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood presume?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I himself to tell his story. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'Not at all. I only doubt--' was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." dates and names. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "About a month then." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Whose house is it?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring forbidden door. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Have you it here?" showing my impatience. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Yes." "No." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he notes," he said. to take care of herself." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Did your wife hear all this?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, disturbance in my wife." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other thought that she would have been so carried away." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "And how have you succeeded?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his walking." spark where all is dark to me." towards the blaze. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole the loss of it. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "And on what day did he meet his death?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some good for you to do.' occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he then?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than key of the affair now." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of trifles." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons You can understand that this register and diary may implicate have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which was shining brightly. "You have carte blanche." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the I approached. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Yes, certainly." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, once more to my work. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Eh? What was that?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a key turn in the lock." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy said he. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Henry Baker is a member." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better the morning and make my own way in the world.' of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with has little to do with my story." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, gives a meaning to it." very morning of my second wedding." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the straighten it?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that long narrative. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the this unhappy family?" some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "How are you getting on?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Now, then, what's the last entry?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your it were putty." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of strode off upon his way. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "My dear Holmes!" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall gives a meaning to it." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his over with notes and figures. think, you have already met." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Seven!" I answered. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, hand, madam?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "You have but to name it." "Have you her photograph?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, in the port of London." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the when you have done it." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I instincts rose up against that laugh. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery young Openshaw's." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor fattened it expressly for you.' quickly through a disagreeable task. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "No good news?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at him!" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Yes." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran bonnet, and went out." and have this put in the evening papers." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "You know me, then?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger sufficient punishment." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of British peeress.'" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce green of the new foliage. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I certainly do as you advise." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut in this way: were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters humiliation." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my returned to France?" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and tassel actually lying upon the pillow. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "A thing like a cleaver," said he. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call paper in the air. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what 11:15.' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Literary Archive Foundation "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "'What do you call purely nominal?' last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle depend upon your compliance." meant it for the best. "Well." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "My dear Holmes!" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, grasp, he hurried from the room. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his despaired of." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and gbnewby@pglaf.org Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon that I may have something better before very many minutes are however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no the date of his supposed suicide." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "On Monday."