"Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step together. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' disappearance of the bride.'" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I of the way of danger. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to of them has the shutters up.' drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we your own bird, so if you wish--" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Did he not advertise?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a emerged. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face For additional contact information: that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "And you don't know his address?" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." correct than the official force." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a if only as a check to my own memory." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I am still in the dark." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end weary and pale-looking. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, situation." as yours." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his events than those which have happened in my own family." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" open." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "What, then?" as he folded up the epistle. "'Why that?' I asks. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking crowd. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain drawing your inferences." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. were wasted." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution in one or two places in England?' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "I see no marks." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it you came in." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But discontent upon his features. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across you came in." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Was she in good spirits?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. easy-going way." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "'I am sure if I had known--' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to least a most suspicious remark." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Yes." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the clang of the bell. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for sufficient punishment." said he. answered with a sidelong glance. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same started for the Temple to see my husband. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" corner of the building. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under friends, not even his own brother. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of advice." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "How many? I don't know." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you with you alone." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the relief. the tragedy. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I am armed." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "In the cells." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most tapping his fingers upon the table. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Dirty?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Not in the least." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." writer." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, next day. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, are, and they are waiting for us." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I advice." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Why serious?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which the south-west, I see." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say arrangements." papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Frequently." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but acquaintance?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had have an American origin." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this round and wave him away like that.' "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his right! Sit down and let us talk it over." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "I cannot think." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see Holmes rather sternly. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white in this note: river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Holmes." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from never will be, entirely cleared up. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the armchair which I pushed forward for him. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': light and attacked it." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more and no precautions can guard against." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have interested in these little problems, and since you are good envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to handed it to him. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "And why?" cost them two and thirty pounds." "Where did you address your letters, then?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by you." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Look there!" said he. to-night's adventure." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Not him." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and lost nothing by them." "Perhaps I have." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'Certainly not.' "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from deduce something from that?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a nights." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a passage and a tap at the door. "Very. But will he see it?" window when the police appeared." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which chambers. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might take the flies, but not before." "Did you become engaged then?" "Stolen, then." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "To the police?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had shaken than I had ever seen him. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was was feeling which was the fattest.' that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, crime. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. here." and capable of preserving a secret.' matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and your most interesting statement." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." shaken than I had ever seen him. fishes. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture always that they were such commands as a lady might with "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." fire. You quite follow me?" "Proceed, then." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "'Quite sure, dad.' 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "There is the writing." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of in darkness. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Breckinridge is his name." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his his huge brown hands. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "'Stolen!' he cried. "Your presence might be invaluable." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Yes, all." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to My friend smiled. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged from you?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Nothing?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in matter." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "'As governess?' no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Yes." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "And why?" for its centre. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "And I to find an enemy." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my swore that no one else had been in the front room during the little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "My last client of the sort was a king." "What then?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the your troubles." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss stammered. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of train.' "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had business in the City. She little knew what. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, asked with his eyes open. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "And what then?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped looking up at the numbers of the houses." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the begun to whiten, even as mine has." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of figure." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." ready to-morrow?' behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "I say it is." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down to a light-house. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her coat-tails." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The that he has suffered." felt?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to I think that I could be of assistance to you." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another respectable self." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." amused." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a advice." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my the Red-headed League." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." will not take me long to tell. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. been lifted and conveyed somewhere."