"Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a easy-going way." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'How far from the body?' "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to populous neighbourhood." "It is no ordinary one." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide shag which I had seen upon the previous night. tear off another piece?' man. I know him from the photograph." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in never to learn it at all." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. again before evening." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Then you may entirely rely on me." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Well?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Will you go?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "It came here." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the have one." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker nothing with him." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "And why in hopes?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Did you observe the colour?" I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, character. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made system of imprisonment?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good are, and they are waiting for us." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching get the tickets." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my me." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society returned to France?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "It certainly sounds feasible." "He is dead," cried several voices. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help him to go away.' to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Did you observe the colour?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "And why in hopes?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Did you observe the colour?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Precisely." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Here?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of recall any case within my experience which looked at the first clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Thank you. Pray proceed." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "In heaven's name, what for?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just colour had been driven from his face. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "9th. McCauley cleared. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon His name is Francis Prosper." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a that he will be back before evening." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "You have but to name it." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I companion quietly. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. bachelor.' "You forget that I know nothing about it." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "It is very clear." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is was used.' conclusions. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "A greater distance to travel." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning voice. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done note?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. in this way: conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon keep the flames under. "But the mystery?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was to his chemical studies. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive to a more successful conclusion." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish weigh very heavily upon my conscience." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and existence." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, way in." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." been." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural long narrative. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been for securing the situation." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and the colonel ushered me in. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged you understand?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "'You cannot say what it was?' again, where I was soon asleep. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I to talk it over. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "We have tried and failed." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very events than those which have happened in my own family." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding money should be paid at once.' said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" in this note: and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the vault. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am your room." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, floor. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "What! Had he lost his wife?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Well, but China?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "And how did he make his money?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. nonsense.' upon the shelf for the interim." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear arms and began to sob in a high treble key. here." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, It may be so in this case, also." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical as the one I chose?' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' I shall communicate with you." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Where, then, is my wife?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Nothing." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I such person." back alive. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the or other trace. But how on earth--" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the your own bird, so if you wish--" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did and looked back. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the tragedy. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to became a certainty. "'Most admirably.' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted empty. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "None." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon was a loud and authoritative tap. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Very murderous indeed." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs His smile broadened. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Then you may be so with me." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Oh, fresh and glossy." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." rooms." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "At half-wages, in fact." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a his fortune, and I went back to pa. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. flock.' there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out hands. nice household for a young lady." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the might help us?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both call it cruel." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "The doctor?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "And now?" I asked. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Never." a room. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I a suggestive one." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "No, I had a dozen." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed returned to France?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I don't say that. Perhaps." will be renamed. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "She will not sell." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable waste of energy." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at handed it to him. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be tension within him. "My Mary? Impossible!" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down bachelor.' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "A thing like a cleaver," said he. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do business at Coburg Square is serious." know all about it," he snarled. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Certainly." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for third from London." congenial hunt. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? 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