explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to him to be an active member of the medical profession." situation." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of upon the sideboard." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. have got?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that fire. You quite follow me?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My noting anything else of interest. "She showed me, as I told you she would." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have married her." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. cigars in their mouths. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a mystery!" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." entirely lost his self-respect." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid respectable self." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Stolen, then." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "And when will you call?" "VIOLET HUNTER." fled together." "Ten will be early enough." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement there when the Rucastles went away." "No bad?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Where did you address your letters, then?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the general public were present, then?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your salesman. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, he died? lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "And why?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "You know me, then?" gone. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I was afraid that you were engaged." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "He said that you could solve anything." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the coronet at all injured?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "But the mystery?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. later, upon the night of May 2nd." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Of what day?" but preventing her from injuring another. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended stalked out of the room. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Lee, in the county of Kent." occurred." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP have I gained?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two one else, I think." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could think you a quite exceptional woman." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I was mad--insane." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms it? Did I buy the geese off you?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after your most interesting statement." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, fishes. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not residence of the great financier. indeed which he could not unravel. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she directors have had misgivings upon the subject." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. one else, I think." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return fact, we may call it conclusive." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements forebodings. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" and effective." to miss it." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the have not had my rubber." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "It is solved." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set galvanised. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug strode off upon his way. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. a room. "Stolen, then." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently at once, for I have only half an hour." best detective that ever lived. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become few hundred pounds.' "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was a suggestive one." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the outbreak?" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his purpose of examination. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a lectures into a series of tales." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. later, upon the night of May 2nd." tear off another piece?' the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "What is it?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." written. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." becomes even more simple." respectable self." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Precisely so. But how--" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Eyford at 11:15.' younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there persecution?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is populous neighbourhood." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, or in danger--" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, fled together." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Never to return." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "From his hat?" "Come in!" said Holmes. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will following enigmatical notices: reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness depend upon my doing so.' in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the assist you in forming an opinion." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to bled considerably." "Was he the only applicant?" "That you are never beaten." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I think it very unlikely." "'Never.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and strength of mind to control. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself discontent upon his features. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "I cannot as yet see any connection." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as formed some opinion?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any from the brougham. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the window, rose as we entered. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an records." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project meant." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my question. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. point in the dark hollow of his hand. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the relief. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with you." the stones. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted instincts rose up against that laugh. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third lost nothing by them." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." spark where all is dark to me." wedding?" the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the done what I asked you, Jones?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to peculiar to him. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of less than 26s. 4d. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass nothing with him." "What have you to say now?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely at home. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan useful material for showing traces. The double line a little strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips States. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would as this. Pray let me have the details." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and flock.' contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid easy-going way." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt with some details as to your case." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the village inn over there?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "No. His orders were to stay in the house." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "No, finished." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Eyford at 11:15.' for securing the situation." "Nothing." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the King without delay." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far habit of advancing money.' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few your billet.' infinite languor in his face. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Munro.' frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of noble correspondent could be. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and with frightened eyes at his accuser. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side events, Mr. Windibank!" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I am still in the dark." so.' stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I cannot say that I have." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "He might." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure.