hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Witness: It was. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'You cannot say what it was?' breakfast?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without notes," he said. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Here?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "The Coroner: What do you mean? better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in his hands." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive character. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Is he quiet?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, ashen face. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I matter." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he sneer upon his pale face. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the done what I asked you, Jones?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "You don't mind breaking the law?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "You don't mind breaking the law?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some business matters.' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "No more words. Get out!" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the The summons was a brief and urgent one. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man discontent upon his features. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he which are rolled in Rotterdam." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "When did she vanish, then?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that to where he stood hid behind the curtain. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be chance." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "What?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss cause to be." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "I think that it is very probable." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the house with me." following enigmatical notices: I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a union?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Where does the thing come from?' going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted possible that we could bring him back to her? out." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Ah, but I was recommended to you." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace matters immensely." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth This is what he says: assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "But you have hopes?" that, and I came down." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. down. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the Red-headed League." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "I was sure that I might rely on you." "My stepfather's business papers." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your interested in these little problems, and since you are good leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a the window, rose as we entered. "By no means." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery voice. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I fear not." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too window when the police appeared." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." recover the gem." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and you understand?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a following enigmatical notices: threw himself down with his face to the pillow. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously against a man in the prime of life?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." father's place of business?" the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the is four-and-twenty." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. which we had just quitted. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "'Never,' said I. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very drove away. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of discontent upon his features. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal behind me. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I question," said Holmes, smiling. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "From his hat?" "You horrify me!" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of heavily into it. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the kind enough to tell me what I should do." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour even so self-evident a thing as that." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. his knees, staring into the fire. do." any little problem which you may submit to me." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt said he. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "And Irene Adler?" not personally threatened." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier more solid." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would carried out of court." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this ago." train.' for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between opened a pocket-book and took out a note. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Here?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "He disappeared so suddenly." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear your co-operation." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "How about poison?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards which was all perfectly true. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers be. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All she slowly sank and died without having recovered her through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Have you good authority for what you say?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "He disappeared so suddenly." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his my friend's incisive reasoning. "Your French gold?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "It surprised me." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the must be when I saw the door open.' as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Precisely." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'Tell me all about it,' said I. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black that you saw all that I did." experiences." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "You horrify me." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "'And what salary do you ask?' feature." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say about here speaks of his kindness to him." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a which are rolled in Rotterdam." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' investigation." his forehead." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's client, rising. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it about here speaks of his kindness to him." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that yourselves in at night?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey lips." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" without a word or a look. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "A call for help, you thought?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my shall use the carriage to-night." house for five minutes.' "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which floor. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a