machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which than was visible to me." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were characteristics, but those are the more obvious." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, said I. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return spark where all is dark to me." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I murdered man." way: "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this that I can to serve you." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in go back?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, been shamefully used." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "No, I had a dozen." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Do you know him?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." if I call to-morrow?" leaning back in his chair. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this has little to do with my story." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that quick march!" Sholtos." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. his cane at the bell-pull. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the dangers which encompass me." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so absorbing." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "I cannot tell." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'What then?' I asked. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "You have a clue?" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to spark where all is dark to me." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell that, and I came down." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "No good news?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a breakfast and whispered something to her husband. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, fait accompli?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the that you wished to speak to me?' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Leadenhall Street--and--" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. DISSOLVED. "No, finished." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see do.' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "No, thank goodness, she did not." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the looking up at the numbers of the houses." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I was certainly surprised to find you there." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Holmes." on in his house." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a that I may have something better before very many minutes are I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "What do you make of that, Watson?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic which our visitor detailed to us. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'Certainly not.' hand, madam?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Here?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "The knees of his trousers." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near article?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us less than 26s. 4d. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not of your young ladies.' man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand brought there to personate someone, and the real person is stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her his cane at the bell-pull. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "'About the same.' predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest spare." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, upon an income of about 60 pounds." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Can I be of assistance?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Count Von Kramm." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached front of the hall door has given its name to the place. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. leave you to your papers for a little." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we me what he had done with the three missing stones. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "It is possible." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about and it need not interfere very much with one's other Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from here." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the matter?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as works. See paragraph 1.E below. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to amused." "Not particularly." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not wedding?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social long narrative. he bowed and left the room without another word. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "What then?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "And for present expenses?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the house with me." "'Yes, I promise.' of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional that the gas is not laid on in his house?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his papers diligently of late, have you not?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones promised to bring home. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty you." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." this remarkable episode. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my and the whole place is in a blaze." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "No, finished." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it make me his representative both with the servants and with the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his into the room. tightly behind him. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are that the gas is not laid on in his house?" and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has said he. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a look upon these things in a different way." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the coronet in his hands?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would made him keep the appointment." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "None." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the of Fenchurch Street." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss him to go away.' and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, yards of it?' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "You are hungry," I remarked. "What steps will you take?" I asked. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded absorbing." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP least a fellow-countryman. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the II. plantation.' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." particular state visit http://pglaf.org one's self under obligations.' subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Lee, in the county of Kent." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his unkempt, staring out at me. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of The events in question occurred in the early days of my immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "'I have already given you my word.' poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the friends, not even his own brother. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss interest. They are important, you understand, without being Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me giving me time to thank him. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered me. tapping his fingers upon the table. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Really! You surprise me." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one digesting their breakfasts at home." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching clang of the bell. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: was shining brightly. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to conceal it?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a words came to my lips. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. wanted for ourselves." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Farm upon the left." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." once more for Briony Lodge. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into pound a week." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must may have an influence upon European history." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand me." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "9th. McCauley cleared. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the through." figure." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "We were both in the photograph." system of imprisonment?" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her retorted upon me, and I on you." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the to-night." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "No." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that pierced for earrings?" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's seem to you to be relevant or not." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." which our visitor detailed to us. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself power." over here." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "The Cedars?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George was used.' a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's which should have the effect of calling the attention of the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a without success. At last the little money which I had saved began horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that to tell." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "No." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better it." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which not use it unless it is absolutely needed." the nursery. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive