"I assure you that I am in your hands." have accepted such a situation. night.' said he. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and room had already been engaged for us. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'Yes, I promise.' "Why did you beat the pavement?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think always that they were such commands as a lady might with "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and extraordinary contortions. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." amused." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Proceed, then." go from here to the Strand." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel be sorry for having acted so harshly." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "And why in hopes?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless round and wave him away like that.' revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. it." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, already referred to. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. corner of the building. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Certainly, madam." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his sneer upon his pale face. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the dangers which encompass me." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "What have you to say now?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? morning." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. crime." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw and have this put in the evening papers." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "No. His orders were to stay in the house." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one that you saw all that I did." "What?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. waste of energy." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the matter." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Is he quiet?" do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly overpowering excitement and concern. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen row." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence said I. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Look there!" said he. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast seven miles from Eyford Station.' marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small you?' possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "About a month then." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be to you." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could stood on the top of it. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was charge against him will break down." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Pray do so." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but place of silver." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "What can it mean?" I gasped. already referred to. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "From his hat?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "That is not always so easy." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Yes, sir." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for business came to an end." key of the affair now." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." him, that man would not have given me such complete information "'Yes, I promise.' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again an introduction to him?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to occupations.' locked." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. bears upon the case?" "And your mother is alive?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'Yes, sir.' "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for be there in time for your coming." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "And I." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of about. "Do you know him?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the cigars in the box." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a young Openshaw's." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." roused himself from his reverie. hour?' "It was an hour's good drive." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'Entirely.' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Was the window open?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their stammered. his forehead." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' it with his own hands." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with asked with his eyes open. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "And I say east," said my patient. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and This is what he says: the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." problems help me to do so." notes," he said. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and inquire as to the address." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." feature." to have been novel and of interest." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a sound at heart." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the newspaper selections." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Your presence might be invaluable." "Stoke Moran?" said he. dead, shall be safe with us." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. such attractions and accomplishments?' rat could hardly pass through." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, was lame." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'And what are they worth?' I asked. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "What, then, did Peterson do?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to away into the river." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." whether it answered to the description of any of their act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you there in twenty minutes." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "This concluded the examination of the witness." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and all of them with the keenest interest. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of leaning back in his chair. "I cannot imagine." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." cigar and let me expound." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he cigar and let me expound." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, recover the gem." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. miles off. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Your presence might be invaluable." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by appeal." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has she has been waylaid. There has been no result." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and acted in my house last night?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "My Mary? Impossible!" photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. reach." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the your room." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Yes." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic your bag." it were putty." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and maid will bring up your coffee." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my such attractions and accomplishments?' shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Do you go out much in society?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "A call for help, you thought?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "And I to find an enemy." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just astonishment. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to sofa. This way, please!" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of British peeress.'" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic do.' to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she you want, then?' alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Is he quiet?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'What do you call purely nominal?' those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "How long did she speak to this Alice?" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a examine." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Perhaps we may make them less so." humiliation." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "I shall most certainly do so." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "He said too much." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could six. Come in!" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I later, upon the night of May 2nd." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "How can you tell that?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not sparkled upon his finger. your sleep?' cigars in their mouths. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not never to learn it at all." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been light and attacked it." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." charged with?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "'Yes, sir.' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds to his chemical studies. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Was the window open?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has problems help me to do so." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother ready to-morrow?' "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the some terrible trap for her." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature soul! here is her carriage at the door."