wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "I am about to be married." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the been able to understand it, in a very few words. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office main points of my analysis." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "None." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which papers." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Witness: I must still refuse. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "And how have you succeeded?" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Munro.' especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court highroad, where all traces were lost. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "But not more so than I to find you." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and it need not interfere very much with one's other have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Were they all fastened this morning?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I assure you that I am in your hands." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Count Von Kramm." hands. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project him!" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and behind me. hair?' "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Serpentine Avenue. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would discontent upon his features. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some is acting for the best. Surrey." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until appeal." jewels which you have stolen?' "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of any." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "The best possible." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP His smile broadened. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Seven!" I answered. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the a very grave face. best detective that ever lived. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man sparkled upon his finger. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "When did it break out?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "There are none." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "No, thank goodness, she did not." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "She walked into the breakfast-room." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy eat it." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from I leave." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Your sister is dead, then?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "And I say east," said my patient. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so business at Coburg Square is serious." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, The summons was a brief and urgent one. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular man. together. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' foot. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough The events in question occurred in the early days of my individual and becomes the badge of a society." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "I cannot imagine." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself particular state visit http://pglaf.org twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I with you alone." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Holmes. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was rat could hardly pass through." you came in." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the carpenter." acted in my house last night?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "To an end?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "How did that help you?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as placed his cuttings. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Never to return." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. interested in these little problems, and since you are good his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "How about poison?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I beg pardon." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three main points of my analysis." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Very much so." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "'No, I know no one in these parts.' these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he present." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your wedding?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Perhaps we may make them less so." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Well, some hundreds of times." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Dr. Gregory B. Newby Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as to change my dress. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I in my life." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the coronet in his hands?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the child." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean three of the beryls in it, was missing. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and you in your example." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "One of his hands." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Arthur Conan Doyle the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. my little problems." whether it answered to the description of any of their "Did you observe the colour?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the certainly do as you advise." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that everything which you would wish to know." "What shall I do?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. attention." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your walking." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'Quite sure, dad.' have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to your bag." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Holmes rather sternly. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived call the police, let the police find what they can.' from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man sneer upon his pale face. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the said he. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called following enigmatical notices: done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "'And what salary do you ask?' it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to was used.' happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." national property. I was determined that the law should have its emerged. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man of a light. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one Mrs. Toller serenely. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. jewels which you have stolen?' simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight closing the door. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and prisoner's face. whether it answered to the description of any of their "What is it?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Absolutely?" will be renamed. mystery." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "My last client of the sort was a king." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which is so. I know all about McCarthy." your troubles." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming system of imprisonment?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to me. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Sutherland. was lame." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and capable of preserving a secret.' parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of will he say when he returns?" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the putting in the horse. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, not, dad?" she asked. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so least a most suspicious remark." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she walking." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small already referred to. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door bed dies. Does not that strike you?" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." I shall communicate with you." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Cross for the Continent." "Where, then, is my wife?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and and looked back. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as you understand?" set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "And is that all?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Precisely so. But how--" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Then the page we have seen--" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "I have hopes." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such asked. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal started for the Temple to see my husband. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had