when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round for and were ordered to this address. allusion to a rat. charge against him will break down." father's place of business?" admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never shoulder; "he's all right." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. wedding?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "No bad?" "I am still in the dark." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner bled considerably." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing the coronet in his hand?" "I will, Miss Turner." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'You doubt its value?' he asked. said he. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." photograph a cabinet?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this Pope's Court, Fleet Street." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will call for protection in the marriage market, for the present tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "No, thank goodness, she did not." beg that you will break it off." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Why did you pick him?" suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the could not have written that. It is the German who is so that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'As governess?' as yours." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see putting in the horse. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "And why?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of in. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to What do you deduce from it?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "May I see it?" golden eyeglasses. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my pictures, libraries, or plate. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. standing smiling on the door-step. "But you were on a friendly footing?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting will he say when he returns?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Why? What do you mean?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." nothing of it?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See heavy and sharp instrument." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open details." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your horse could go." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such discontent upon his features. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." a monotonous occupation." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria father's young wife. him!" not personally threatened." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just The events in question occurred in the early days of my dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was not interfere, come what may. You understand?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" rose-bushes. when you have done it." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Not in the least." enough to aid us in our search." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Witness: Nothing definite. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the stones. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." crackling voice. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call anything to a woman, for she would have her way." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Then the page we have seen--" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. better grown goose." here and I will read it to you: wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view appeared upon the scene." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an a monotonous occupation." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our outsides of the windows. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a bonnet, and went out." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do with the outside air!" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "And when will you call?" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel that he will be back before evening." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "'And the work?' weapon." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the coronet in his hands?" unprofitable." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Holmes' face clouded over. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "What can you not understand?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began it with his own hands." "'About the same.' "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Yes?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his which we had just quitted. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to these bleak autumnal evenings." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way again before evening." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to mysterious business." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the fluttered off among the others. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "No." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the back to my heart. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing unclasping of his long thin hands. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "But his left-handedness." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the present." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," which should have the effect of calling the attention of the there has been an enclosure here!" "Yes, it was twisted." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on sooner or later she must fall a victim. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said any." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was wanted for ourselves." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither to miss it." discontent upon his features. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the armchair which I pushed forward for him. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Lee, in the county of Kent." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste my secret was safe in his possession. the date of his supposed suicide." introspective fashion. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not highroad, where all traces were lost. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold her also." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying over with notes and figures. "Where is it, then?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "No." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing along the entire front of the house, with three long windows to arrive at through this?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. conduct the inquiry." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the have had none more fantastic than this." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, strength of mind to control. "ARAT," I read. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable do." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City his fortune, and I went back to pa. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness now. It seems that there had been some informality about their chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner clang of the bell. it." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are into the bag, and made for the door. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. dramatic, in fact." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "None. Neville wrote those words." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "My last client of the sort was a king." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for other, as fresh and trim as possible. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and a good hundred miles off by now." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, married her." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "You have a clue?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I as the one I chose?' strong and stiff." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, pressing in one house as in another. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'Certainly not. But why?' top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master constraint." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand your co-operation." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his or other trace. But how on earth--" glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "You will not go there first?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the of a light. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "And the cigar-holder?" buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when you?' which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Never." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Munro.' flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "He might." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. morning." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "I will do it." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." think that he is innocent?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes considering the formidable letters which were received by himself encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had make me his representative both with the servants and with the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they companion. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "And why?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the Friday. Was it to be in church?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. tied." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, thought that she would have been so carried away." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "What office?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the confronted him. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "He slept on the premises." "Breckinridge is his name." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, enough to aid us in our search." salesman. of campaign. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Perfectly so." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "No, my brougham is waiting." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion