"Yes, but only for you and me." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and thought that she would have been so carried away." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness companion. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of is," said he presently: police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. that he has suffered." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. in his power. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official floor. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and in him." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an you want, then?' "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It girl said." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Never to return." your bag." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the help us in this matter." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing upon a handsome competence. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to indeed happy." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Then I am your man." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "It is possible." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack brandy and water within his reach. she used." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Yes, only one." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting get the tickets." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time know all about it," he snarled. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "She told me to ask you." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase where she found matters as described by the last witness. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Where, then?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "I cannot as yet see any connection." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "I guessed as much." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a what these perils are?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Literary Archive Foundation violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to will he say when he returns?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the little opening for the ventilator is." is a common subject for conversation. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. written, and locked the door of the office after me. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself to-night." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Holmes rather sternly. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an outside. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small more solid." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "But you would not advise me to refuse?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this floor. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion such attractions and accomplishments?' screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "His face fell immediately. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out morning." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Will you bet, then?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, of them has the shutters up.' hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in new acquaintance to Baker Street. one which it was hard to resist. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing details should find their way into the papers. Inspector attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Henry Baker is a member." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is status with the IRS. astonishment. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it humiliation." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "I will do it." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, spark where all is dark to me." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and attention." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Do you receive much company?" he asked. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My one which it was hard to resist. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you before the coroner and the police-court." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." already been minutely examined." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." room. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "It is true that I have been generally successful." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and people don't know." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned the driver. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, fatally injured? chambers. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. papers must be those that are destroyed.' chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have colonel looking down at me. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. entirely devoid of interest." your sleep?' shall not find me ungrateful." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." your only hope of safety." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the cup of tea. to a light-house. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found said he. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other morning." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Well." hereditary King of Bohemia." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "'And what are they worth?' I asked. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding have established a very serious case against the son of the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Nothing." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "There is the writing." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of campaign. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open straighten it?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have back into the street. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a introspective fashion. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly into her hand at the door and which lured her within their in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. I shall continue with my miserable story. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Certainly." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the dangers which encompass me." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Frequently." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend said I. "Yes. He waved his hands." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project he died? sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Yes." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the window, rose as we entered. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which back into the street. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, humiliation." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "And leave your case unfinished?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Holmes' room. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "But who is he?" heavily into it. situation." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said and laid it on the table. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed better grown goose." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your never will be, entirely cleared up. him!" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with at my own good fortune. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the stable lane now." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay papers." the nursery. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the remarked. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Yes, the wine-cellar." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "'Is purely nominal.' Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much the morning and make my own way in the world.' state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Yes, the wine-cellar." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Holmes." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Very. But will he see it?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the coronet in his hand?" "Not I." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the miles off. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or not, dad?" she asked. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally then?" "And you don't know his address?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the not as remarkable as your advertisement." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' all?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" six. Come in!" to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come writer." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Nothing?" have an American origin." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his threw himself down with his face to the pillow. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by was lame." golden eyeglasses. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, standing smiling on the door-step. you?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Yes, he did." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "But what harm can there be in that?" done what I asked you, Jones?"