that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, about. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it details." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "You think that he is dead?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private and the church but not where the lady lived." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Why, what do you mean?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. than was visible to me." "Pray do so." "BALLARAT." Lee, in the county of Kent." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "The murder was done with it." "Why serious?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "And help." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could in the hope of finding them." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his better in every way that they should make their position a little deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully is acting for the best. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "ARAT," I read. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the station." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "No." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Edgeware Road. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She orange pips. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had any little problem which you may submit to me." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There towards the blaze. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I is entirely a question of barometric pressure." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Certainly." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his acquaintance?" call you and give you the chance." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes man. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is spark where all is dark to me." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not question. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Literary Archive Foundation "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Well, some hundreds of times." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the forehead. are, I think, all that we need." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "And now?" He raised his hand. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." burst out into a roar of laughter. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I your troubles." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Stolen." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some if only as a check to my own memory." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the driver. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three of the way of danger. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Why did you beat the pavement?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a never to learn it at all." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with orange pips. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Holmes' face clouded over. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Absolutely?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of Mr. Rucastle's." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few maiden herself was most instructive." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There existence." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the do.' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said whether it answered to the description of any of their "'As governess?' "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "You have but to name it." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Leadenhall Street--and--" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "No good news?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "And I." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to criminal. We have already had experience of such." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. I held the little printed slip to the light. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing room?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." your equipment. cigar and let me expound." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Absolutely none." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the the coronet in his hand?" trifles." what these perils are?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the Assizes." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my your room." "When did it break out?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. tension within him. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his know what is wrong with it.' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I never have." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Was he the only applicant?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others cheerful." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know that you wished to speak to me?' a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Yes, sir." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her way in everything. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the ceiling. maid will bring up your coffee." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Can I be of assistance?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. in the port of London." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually questionable one." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The where we are going." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." province." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great tassel actually lying upon the pillow. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly do you make of it all?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to handed it to him. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." directly by questioning you." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily know what is wrong with it.' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away I nodded again. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence with you?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Have you good authority for what you say?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "My opinion is in no way altered." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and is entirely a question of barometric pressure." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are there was no need for father to know." "How did he come?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Chief Executive and Director servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the house for five minutes.' He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "And what then?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Stolen." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" arrangements." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of geese which you supplied to the Alpha." over with notes and figures. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a secret." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "He is still with you, I presume?" "The gentleman I describe." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "But how could you guess what the motive was?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "But your client--" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time hands. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have stalked out of the room. something of him before." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we fled together." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes better in every way that they should make their position a little IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the bedroom door." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "And how did you verify them?" "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. over part of the map. "What do you read?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Perhaps I have." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "She showed me, as I told you she would." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very within hail.' sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, in the port of London." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of guilty one." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until with some details as to your case." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Nothing." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I strength." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Have you it here?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever