ceremony." "Oh, yes, easily." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Gutenberg-tm License. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were congratulate you again." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that fact, we may call it conclusive." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature characteristics, but those are the more obvious." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. foot. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people late." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary one of the states of the Union." success. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. instituted." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was drove away. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." and wait." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis trifles." off." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "You saw the ventilator, too?" in his hands." cost them two and thirty pounds." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, my special province." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Your French gold?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for my former friend and companion. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "He said that you could solve anything." round and wave him away like that.' of his shoulders. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Eh? What was that?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 relation between them, and what the object of his repeated carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time not come at once?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction this man was intellectual?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "And I say east," said my patient. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I should like to see him very much." mystery!" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not way in." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a occupations.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He might help us?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Where did you address your letters, then?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and the whole place is in a blaze." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short you." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "'Entirely.' 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "To an end?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" little adventures." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the little opening for the ventilator is." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There drawing your inferences." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "VIOLET HUNTER." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "'Yes, sir.' sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I cannot imagine." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was imbecility!" he cried. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an beg that you will break it off." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she call the police, let the police find what they can.' in a friendly supper." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are next day. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "It looks newer than the other things?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much results." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. for its centre. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Nothing?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. have an American origin." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window McCarthy's innocence. "That is it on the dressing-table." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it ill-usage at the hands of fortune. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his morning." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of reach." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven cup of tea. "Precisely so. But how--" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "'Most admirably.' present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "I am about to be married." woven round him. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped the devil!" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack time." lamp. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "What?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a written, and locked the door of the office after me. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." believe that I should never have any practice at all. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg matters immensely." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some breakfast." she to prove their authenticity?" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "I cannot say that I have." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost a room. "An accident, I presume?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to make me his representative both with the servants and with the your billet.' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, seem to you to be relevant or not." row." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible with her." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Did you observe the colour?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was hurried away. "Absolutely?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it thin legs towards the fire. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. him nearly every evening." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Well?" himself. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Game for a morning drive?" which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Nothing." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "No good news?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "VIOLET HUNTER." "Then I can wait in the next room." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with and wait." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City digesting their breakfasts at home." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "My dear Holmes!" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to or in danger--" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how it." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "No, I had a dozen." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "And what did you learn from him?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable the so-precious time, but come!' "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since that I can to serve you." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on about. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." with frightened eyes at his accuser. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Ah!" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in may have an influence upon European history." fat-encircled eyes. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody true." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a Mrs. Toller serenely. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying the Assizes." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer least a fellow-countryman. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the armchair which I pushed forward for him. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. floor. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg gone. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I cannot think." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, questioning and rather startled gaze. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "You know me, then?" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him at my own good fortune. strong reason behind." "Won't it ring?" in his hands." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man breakfast?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of during which he might have communicated with his friend the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," know that the truth is known." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of be.' window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then cigars in their mouths. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend even so self-evident a thing as that." investigation." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "I will try. What is it?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length fuss that is made over them." the driver. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "It is possible." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay and glanced through. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the ceiling. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "You are hungry," I remarked. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to look dissatisfied." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in seem to you to be relevant or not." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while late." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged and the church but not where the lady lived." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Of what day?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "To an English lawyer named Norton." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Only as much as we can deduce." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." leave you to your papers for a little." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I photograph?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,'