"I never have." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much forbidden door. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "When did she vanish, then?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "Certainly." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and I shall be with you presently." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave come either from the window or the door. My attention was fishes. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner papers must be those that are destroyed.' William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to keep the flames under. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "And who is her maid?" Watson," he said cordially. desk. I think that I could be of assistance to you." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the coronet in his hand?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I my room." nonsense.' to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." arrested. You then--" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her not within a twentieth part of the market price." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "In what way?" asked Holmes. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "'I have already given you my word.' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public there is a decided draught." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when voice. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "He slept on the premises." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'Quite sure, dad.' The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'And the work?' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "But he might be a bachelor." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "You horrify me!" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little London for the present?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Literary Archive Foundation know all about it," he snarled. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Pool. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "And who is her maid?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, said I. something of him before." "Pray continue your narrative." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters have accepted such a situation. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "'Which dealer's?' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "None." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened careless servant girl?" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "She will not sell." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP little adventures." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to society." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Surrey." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I case before our client came into the room." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been it." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer putting in the horse. gbnewby@pglaf.org "No sign of it?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I have solved it." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made clanging. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between in this note: a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having bears upon the case?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely leave you to your papers for a little." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness to a more successful conclusion." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I me upon any point which I do not make clear." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled plantation.' rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), do.' Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It is solved." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "That is easily got." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with were new raised from a basin. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I am about to be married." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Yes, the wine-cellar." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would important." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Nor running a chance of arrest?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a eavesdroppers?' "But it has twice been burgled." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered better in every way that they should make their position a little when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little one or two very singular points about this room. For example, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "No." depend upon my doing so.' to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see just called myself is not exactly my own." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers this as likely?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to quick march!" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and breakfast." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can which our visitor detailed to us. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid I nodded to show that I had heard. public press." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "But the mystery?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Count Von Kramm." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact happened." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each cheerful." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the made him keep the appointment." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Where is it, then?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its he died? to change my dress. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Precisely so. But how--" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in married her." question," said Holmes, smiling. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, suddenly upon us." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I up this clue while it is still hot." "Nothing." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have these bleak autumnal evenings." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Was he the only applicant?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "So I have heard." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, light and attacked it." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "But his left-handedness." call for it in person on Monday morning.' "But it has twice been burgled." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of tell them apart.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "What is it, then--a fire?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain would then never go into court at all." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on soul! here is her carriage at the door." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few presented more singular features than that which was associated "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long again." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the room while you explain this matter?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones is entirely a question of barometric pressure." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "To an English lawyer named Norton." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "He said that you could solve anything." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my tell me that you intended to go into harness." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a meant." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "And you don't know his address?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "You saw the ventilator, too?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Certainly, madam." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and the whole place is in a blaze." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Dr. Gregory B. Newby "When did it break out?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "And for present expenses?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments know all about it," he snarled. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and instituted." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the matter?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great as this. Pray let me have the details." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love populous neighbourhood." believe that I should never have any practice at all. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Game for a morning drive?" mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I warn you that they are very incomplete." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door your own bird, so if you wish--" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But disappearance of the bride.'" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a following enigmatical notices: Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still colour had been driven from his face. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the formed some opinion?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal."