and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "None. Neville wrote those words." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "No more words. Get out!" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual said I. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "No." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered over part of the map. "What do you read?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at bed dies. Does not that strike you?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. galvanised. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must it." "What can it mean?" I gasped. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" she used." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. compunction about shooting them down." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." know what is wrong with it.' someone who had been in Australia." cup of tea. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning entirely devoid of interest." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "You have carte blanche." "Pray do so." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your I nodded to show that I had heard. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive on in his house." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. fuss that is made over them." go--none." matter." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Yes." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found important." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I see no marks." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Project Gutenberg-tm works. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed my friend's incisive reasoning. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little about. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to if only as a check to my own memory." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Dr. Gregory B. Newby offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "But how will you look?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Where, then?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. is," said he presently: piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and carpenter." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Mrs. Toller serenely. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper which should have the effect of calling the attention of the noting anything else of interest. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been such person." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing like that before?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Absolutely?" cigar and let me expound." families. Now for the facts. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently pound a week." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, your own bird, so if you wish--" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all advice." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was lips." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something late!' just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down approach us with offers to donate. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "We were both in the photograph." "She told me to ask you." congratulate you again." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give your bag." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not he. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite will he say when he returns?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "But how?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a business." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the was keenly on my guard against him. and laid it on the table. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them views." will be renamed. indeed happy." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere behind me. kind enough to tell me what I should do." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Was he the only applicant?" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very advice." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "What can it mean?" I gasped. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the and laid it on the table. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the salesman. and that he would see to anything that turned up. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and as he remarks, very much against the son." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that McCarthy." excitement. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of you for a few hours?" of them has the shutters up.' a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. gigantic client. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is upon the white wrist. his grey eyes. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. case before our client came into the room." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "That you are never beaten." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right prison!" to talk it over. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally get her out of the way." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "In what way?" asked Holmes. where we are going." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the with you alone." window when the police appeared." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "'Tell me all about it,' said I. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few along the entire front of the house, with three long windows say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which obstinate." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled page at http://pglaf.org He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to front of me. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, there!' determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself you?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "The vanishing of the lady." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "'A dozen yards or so.' Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "'Yes, it was gone.' the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? was used.' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole call it cruel." "Pray continue your narrative." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are subject to the trademark license, especially commercial my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Absolutely?" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Really! You surprise me." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began which our visitor detailed to us. I nodded again. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to speckled band?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque maid will bring up your coffee." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." nonsense.' interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some business at Coburg Square is serious." cigars in the box." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us in the dead of the night?' as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. were wasted." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Mary, has deserted me." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "It is very kind of you."