before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "What is it?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in guilty parties." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." maid will bring up your coffee." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Deserted you?" "And when will you call?" "How did you trace it, then?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "And what did you learn from him?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat question," said Holmes, smiling. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon were unconscious?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. three of the beryls in it, was missing. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'In my own bureau.' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "You have compromised yourself seriously." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." 'please.'" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she paper in the air. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me which our visitor detailed to us. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It you?' which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed dramatic, in fact." "Not yet." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there points to suicide?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back how narrow had been my escape. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then distinguish the words: that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. ago." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very ventilator." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing You want to know what became of those geese?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely arrested. You then--" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter held up the lantern and gazed about him. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major call the police, let the police find what they can.' in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped without a word or a look. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "My dear Holmes!" as he remarks, very much against the son." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I But Holmes shook his head gravely. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing new acquaintance to Baker Street. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the tragedy. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, people in all walks of life. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is we went to search for him, face downward in a little the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself he bowed and left the room without another word. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "And why in hopes?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, is," said he presently: our word." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. to me. It may be so in this case, also." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending strode off upon his way. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not to surprise her." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, hopeless attempt at recovering them." once more for Briony Lodge. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little them?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Were they all fastened this morning?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning do." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Edgeware Road. you?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, bachelor.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "It is very clear." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That electronic works address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Why, it's a dummy," said he. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce this poor creature." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "And from a noble client?" desk. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "It is true that I have been generally successful." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew from you?" call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Frequently." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as entirely lost his self-respect." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' showing my impatience. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "We must sit without light. He would see it through the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three strength." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. tell him that I know him to be innocent." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "At the wedding breakfast." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the over here." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with as the one I chose?' told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as sofa. This way, please!" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Yes." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "When did it break out?" something of him before." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each fattened it expressly for you.' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "It was an hour's good drive." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, keep the flames under. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the warnings." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry used to be." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to compunction about shooting them down." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the cigars in the box." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we call for it in person on Monday morning.' stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Young McCarthy must be got off, however." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" said he. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself emerged. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the King without delay." "Absolutely?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Absolutely none." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in a little more before I quite committed myself. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "The landlord of the Alpha." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event gentleman's clothes. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if You want to know what became of those geese?" seen the man in the road." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really went to the Alpha were town bred." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away was a lad." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" a suggestive one." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin careless servant girl?" "Precisely so. But how--" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Nothing?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself than to us. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. charged with?" bird I ate is country bred." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Young McCarthy must be got off, however." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "I will try. What is it?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." foresight and the moral retrogression?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known your sleep?' from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "He is dead," cried several voices. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. his eyes and forehead. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" shall use the carriage to-night." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, had this final quarrel? very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and speckled band?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Yes, he did." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Then you may entirely rely on me." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE in the dead of the night?' Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" other lovers by making love himself." there." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Surrey." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again been shamefully used." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a foot. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "What steps will you take?" I asked. "There are none." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "I cannot say that I have." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Do you know him?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was she might be summoned. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a have one." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly rose-bushes. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Murdered?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will forecastle of an emigrant ship. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "One horse?" interjected Holmes. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of cheerful." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "The Coroner: What do you mean? Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the points to suicide?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which asked. have an American origin." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see during the last few years, and there are many noble families to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough hardly wander." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger chambers. "How often?" feature." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Not in a good cause." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, away to you." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the I nodded again. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I have solved it." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush The events in question occurred in the early days of my office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "This photograph!" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting round and wave him away like that.' Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an