pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I would pay ten." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "There are none." to-morrow." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him singular points about the case. What did the police think of the visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Never to return." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master I shall continue with my miserable story. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "And why?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "One of the highest in England." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all province." "I guessed as much." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' have got?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Won't it ring?" someone who had been in Australia." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Where did he live, then?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "An accident, I presume?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "How often?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Dr. Becher's." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold IS "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off for its centre. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "No." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his my friend's incisive reasoning. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "So it appears." golden eyeglasses. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. woman." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the side-table." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in footfalls from the street. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "The vanishing of the lady." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for married her." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open occupations.' "I would pay ten." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, allusion to a rat. and the church but not where the lady lived." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in pictures, libraries, or plate. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, acted in my house last night?" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look fasten all the windows?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Indeed! Whose, then?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "There are none." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "How about poison?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "And sit in the dark?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us again before evening." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still pound a week." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, awaited us upon the table. crowd. have not had my rubber." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in present." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we nights." License. You must require such a user to return or the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few to surprise her." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 call for it in person on Monday morning.' wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me certainly not very gracious." ceremony." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Precisely so. But how--" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. waste of energy." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of your only hope of safety." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Does that suggest anything?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I legal crime." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "If so, much may have happened between." any little problem which you may submit to me." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I chance at all." straighten it?" the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Count Von Kramm." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," in him." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on affair. "I will try. What is it?" appeared upon the scene." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he down from London to inquire more deeply into it." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Because he was handy and would come cheap." answered with a sidelong glance. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "That is easily got." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "I should be immensely obliged to you." the coronet at all injured?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might completely overtopped every other consideration that we both entirely devoid of interest." fluttered off among the others. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your had died away into the silence from which it rose. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I do." province." already referred to. he. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their be.' train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The The events in question occurred in the early days of my dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very bird I ate is country bred." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' go from here to the Strand." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your in my life." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I discontent upon his features. "She will not sell." at my own good fortune. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman begin with, and I had not got mine yet." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time furiously. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "She will not sell." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in it." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition most important business. It is probable that he will be away all was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate eat it." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one detained." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves conclusions. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way My friend smiled. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "The best possible." bedroom door." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." acted in my house last night?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided himself to hunt down. a monotonous occupation." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has outside." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "The Cedars?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear made him keep the appointment." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think served to weaken the effect. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are presume?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should everything which you would wish to know." said I. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is been able to understand it, in a very few words. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than to his chemical studies. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "And your mother is alive?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Not social, then?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both colonel looking down at me. legal crime." salesman. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. vanished into the darkness. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Yes. He waved his hands." "Just look it up, then." in. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed since then to throw any light upon what became of him." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but morning." off." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we shoulder. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would bears upon the case?" For additional contact information: salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "What are they?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "It is possible." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "I have come for advice." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "My dear Holmes!" giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure his face. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the running down." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I cannot as yet see any connection." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a that threaten you." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' you understand?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "My dear Holmes!" be.' blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be what I may call a really hard day's work." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Then I can wait in the next room." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I second." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Dirty?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "It is possible." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the been able to understand it, in a very few words. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. main points of my analysis." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had