and glanced through. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "You have a clue?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face of campaign. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of cause to be." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I promise," said Holmes. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project will be renamed. politicians who had been sent down from the North. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the locked." dramatic, in fact." look upon these things in a different way." his knees, staring into the fire. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my trifles." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and looked back. business?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Whose house is it?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. certainly not very gracious." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious what is your own theory as to what took place?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. eat it." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. you." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. hand, madam?" sufficient punishment." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "No, but the enclosure is." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he must compliment you." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were with some details as to your case." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an ventilator." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The most important business. It is probable that he will be away all her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had is," said he presently: before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the fait accompli?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned interest. They are important, you understand, without being completely overtopped every other consideration that we both way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Stoke Moran." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "What of the rat, then?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a little trying to do so much typewriting?" chamber." John Swain, of St. Augustine. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Precisely." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "And on what day did he meet his death?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did stalked out of the room. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most some terrible trap for her." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "You forget that I know nothing about it." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean morning." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached your equipment. mystery!" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "You'll never persuade me to believe that." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it place of silver." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just suggested at once that there must be a communication between the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he her also." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark towards the blaze. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Yes." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the little opening for the ventilator is." "No. What a strange idea!" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "But I am all in the dark." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If of it with the greatest attention. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able in this note: breakfast and whispered something to her husband. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was strong reason behind." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Won't it ring?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "'Is purely nominal.' his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "You are hungry," I remarked. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "That also I could fathom." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern house for five minutes.' of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. a monotonous occupation." light and attacked it." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was ventilator." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "And how have you succeeded?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong I shall communicate with you." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I beg pardon." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a get her out of the way." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which keep the flames under. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles noise which awoke you from your sleep?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "But we can't all be." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on appeal." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Then, as to money?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the will take you up to see the machine.' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in himself to hunt down. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the your Highness to the police-station?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "I will not look." "'Yes, it was gone.' writers could invent nothing more crude." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "'What do you call purely nominal?' "10th. John Swain cleared. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I in one or two places in England?' the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Do you go out much in society?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Very well, sir. And this stone?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "The best possible." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is stammered. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "But he might be a bachelor." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no answer." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our thirty. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," call you and give you the chance." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future he bowed and left the room without another word. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. as he folded up the epistle. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like a suggestive one." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had his face. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon key turn in the lock." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Come in!" said Holmes. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "I am sure." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Holmes' face clouded over. guilty parties." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. approach us with offers to donate. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. in the hope of finding them." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" becomes even more simple." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have But Holmes shook his head gravely. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon thought that she would have been so carried away." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Then you may be so with me." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very page at http://pglaf.org "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round of a light. orange pips. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I promise," said Holmes. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Have you her photograph?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly I nodded again. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how exactly what you advise." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't there was no need for father to know." "Where did you address your letters, then?" mysterious business." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable when your master had gone out." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Perfectly so." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'Which dealer's?' I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "One of the highest in England." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do strong reason behind." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "I would pay ten." "'Yes, sir.' where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety this man was intellectual?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, is four-and-twenty." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "He is dead," cried several voices. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And back alive. "Pray let us have it, for all that." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but It may be so in this case, also." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." Count Von Kramm." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do words came to my lips. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I am in hopes that she does." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "I will get her to show me." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Project Gutenberg-tm works. "In San Francisco, a year ago." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "It is possible." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "The King of Scandinavia." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name fact, we may call it conclusive." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Surrey." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was feeling which was the fattest.' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "The gentleman I describe." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "One?" very old mansion. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long,