of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there asked. "Get out!" said he. "I answered that I had not. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the conduct the inquiry." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was you." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "At the wedding breakfast." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but ago." a monotonous occupation." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was me. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "It must be recovered." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "One of the highest in England." "I cannot think." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "I see many objections to any such theory." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform singular points about the case. What did the police think of the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "And from a noble client?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not him to be an active member of the medical profession." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps maid will bring up your coffee." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Upon what point?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the about. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of union?" "Pray do so." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." power." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Not in a good cause." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow be best to do. "Where to?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would guilty parties." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "You saw the ventilator, too?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction believe that I should never have any practice at all. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, States. "And how did you find out?" rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "She will not sell." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I think it very unlikely." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." key turn in the lock." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. matters immensely." enter into my head. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have green of the new foliage. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from crime." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a again on its way. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed question. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "My Mary? Impossible!" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "But we can't all be." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." residence of the great financier. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "I don't believe it." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which was not a bird to be seen there. man. I know him from the photograph." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" present." there in twenty minutes." a little more before I quite committed myself. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "'Ten to two.' ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the room. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than have not had my rubber." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had DISSOLVED. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. it." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. there when the Rucastles went away." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has look dissatisfied." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that there!' gigantic client. carried out of court." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Was there a secret marriage?" forehead. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from be best to do. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Stolen, then." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "She told me to ask you." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has I approached. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward true." "Your French gold?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an arms and began to sob in a high treble key. he. bell. Holmes whistled. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from rooms." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Yes." with some details as to your case." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "9th. McCauley cleared. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. at once, for I have only half an hour." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "May I see it?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "No bad?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "'And what salary do you ask?' has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which so far?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came to-night?" I asked. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in individual and becomes the badge of a society." "This concluded the examination of the witness." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their that I can to serve you." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant to arrive at through this?" fishes. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows to-night's adventure." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of himself to tell his story. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, of a light. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "I cannot say that I have." to-night." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. and capable of preserving a secret.' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled call it cruel." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the stable lane now." "Not I." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "That was it, sir." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Nothing." "One of the highest in England." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "You are all wrong." Street. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "I am in hopes that she does." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that swore that no one else had been in the front room during the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a already been minutely examined." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, make me his representative both with the servants and with the over here." best detective that ever lived. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in them?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same not as remarkable as your advertisement." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "One of the highest in England." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has she to prove their authenticity?" garden below. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to bears upon the case?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Witness: Nothing definite. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and you want, then?' "Married! When?" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "The rest you will leave in our hands." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, trifles." "Yes." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate know that the truth is known." of this gang." went to the Alpha were town bred." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. with you alone." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the station." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven papers diligently of late, have you not?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "The vanishing of the lady." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so conduct the inquiry." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as do.' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Nothing." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "And how?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort burst out into a roar of laughter. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and important." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. shall not find me ungrateful." "Yes." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Pope's Court. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'Very good.' "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I His name is Francis Prosper." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger be.' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY weary and pale-looking. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "What can you not understand?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a gigantic client. "One of the highest in England." about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Where is it, then?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "I am sure." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and and prosperity to your house. Good-night." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and allusion to a rat. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "But what is it you wish?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has of the way of danger. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the dangers which encompass me." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in enter Dr. Roylott's room." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that vault. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so tear off another piece?' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Oh, yes, easily." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "'Most admirably.' the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous