"Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any friends, not even his own brother. crackling voice. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "'How far from the body?' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the inquest, and which are worth considering." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go true." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual hereditary King of Bohemia." "'Certainly,' I answered. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis must compliment you." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "No, I am descending." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of been with you?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my sound at heart." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "No." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "No?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "His face fell immediately. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I the Friday. Was it to be in church?" shall not find me ungrateful." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming danger is over." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I am all attention, madam." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls posted to-day." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an young Openshaw's." it means?" "I shall most certainly do so." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have are, and they are waiting for us." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'Why that?' I asks. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible danger is over." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "The King of Scandinavia." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "But you have hopes?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "My dear Holmes!" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "That is unusual in a young girl." crime. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which your Highness to the police-station?" "It is possible." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door of Fenchurch Street." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who persecution?" read it out to me." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some window when the police appeared." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "I have solved it." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water second." the warnings." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "But she will refuse." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, anything to do with the matter?" McCarthy." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted my little problems." and no precautions can guard against." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation been with you?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Oh, yes, easily." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm it means?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "That sounds a little paradoxical." tapping his fingers upon the table. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "To ruin me." forehead. results." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I say that I have solved it." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, bears upon the case?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Well, some hundreds of times." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the the house with me." "I will try. What is it?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the official police." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "One of his hands." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal anything to a woman, for she would have her way." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "The rest you will leave in our hands." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob comes from the middle window." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I shall communicate with you." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in never will be, entirely cleared up. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found himself to tell his story. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall my former friend and companion. with you alone." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young know all about it," he snarled. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." hopeless attempt at recovering them." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed cheerful." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "How did that help you?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and and the whole place is in a blaze." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a bled considerably." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present better grown goose." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and acted in my house last night?" papers on the sundial.'" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and fat-encircled eyes. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, to have that photograph." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your cigars in their mouths. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, kindly on the shoulder. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Yes, sir." "VIOLET HUNTER." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Here?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have my special province." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have sufficient punishment." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat she to prove their authenticity?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we see me here to avoid scandal." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the question," said Holmes, smiling. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" was a perfect sample of the class. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his rooms." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of prepare for the new role I have to play." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'Ample.' fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in God! What an exposure! What can I do?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the window when the police appeared." unprecedented a position." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Nothing." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I assist you in forming an opinion." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at children over to America with him, so that I found myself without fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Quite so." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Bought." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. are, and they are waiting for us." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "You will not go there first?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and that there was nothing in it, after all." formed some opinion?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "In which, sir?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he dates and names. my former friend and companion. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** side. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I whereabouts. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "She showed me, as I told you she would." it means?" to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging was feeling which was the fattest.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, some water from a caraffe. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become into the bag, and made for the door. papers diligently of late, have you not?" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did telegram would bring me down to your help." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "That you are never beaten." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most fire. You quite follow me?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up 11:15.' road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you happened." this remarkable episode. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "An accident, I presume?" the Assizes." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "'Most admirably.' "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "But I have heard all that you have heard." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" to-night?' "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you gone. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I brought there to personate someone, and the real person is people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. your Highness to the police-station?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he advice." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Leadenhall Street--and--" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "What of the rat, then?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was deduce something from that?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into which it had come upon my father." way in everything. "Yes, that is the Crown." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, becomes even more simple." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will just ask you whether you had heard it.' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared to a more successful conclusion." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from o'clock is it?" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very business came to an end." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Which surely he restored to their owner?" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' night.' said he. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Because he was handy and would come cheap." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to like that before?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round that I am arrested." "'I am sure if I had known--' was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "My own seal." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible garden below. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Very much so." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening it were putty." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," The police have openly confessed that they can at present make words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "'A dozen yards or so.' tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called there is a decided draught." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic fashion which was peculiar to him. "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys emerged. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her."