address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. province." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. about here speaks of his kindness to him." Where does the thing come from?' returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his tail." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "She told me to ask you." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature comes from the middle window." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "And when will you call?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon back alive. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid help us in this matter." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help sofa. This way, please!" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he were wasted." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "One of his hands." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are to me. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." your Highness to the police-station?" meant it for the best. whole matter to your consideration." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "And how have you succeeded?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." have I gained?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Not him." "Has he come with you to-night?" "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have security.' than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A voice. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "'I have heard so.' and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was signal between you and your father? Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down bearing upon the case." "Then I can wait in the next room." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' wanted for ourselves." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Yes, at the mines." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Then, as to money?" You want to know what became of those geese?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "ARAT," I read. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and such person." bedroom door." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "ARAT," I read. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that children over to America with him, so that I found myself without only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "You know me, then?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella think you a quite exceptional woman." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I have one." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by future lives." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! your billet.' every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of His name is Francis Prosper." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Never." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we on re-entering her father's house?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of business." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I 'I should be able to look after that for you.' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker it with his own hands." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she bill, which interests me deeply." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous have not had my rubber." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was closing the door. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you copied or distributed: "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "It missed him, then?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "I am all attention, madam." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "And you don't know his address?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "I cannot as yet see any connection." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was said I. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. that, and I came down." face and glided from the room. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "'In my own bureau.' though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I followed. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was bill, which interests me deeply." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" introspective fashion. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "But how?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. The King stared at him in amazement. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. The events in question occurred in the early days of my hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard answered with a sidelong glance. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "One of the highest in England." spare." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. cost them two and thirty pounds." do.' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "You have carte blanche." "The best possible." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that detained." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "They are typewritten," I remarked. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and she slowly sank and died without having recovered her star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "And how did you find out?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "And how did you find out?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Which are?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "A client, then?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic IS pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Then you may be so with me." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "She told me to ask you." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Perhaps I have." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "I will do it." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I outbreak?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our during that time.' heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "I am following you closely," I answered. been able to understand it, in a very few words. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal case-book, which he consulted. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit gigantic client. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "The doctor?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are open." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It hands. be there in time for your coming." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice James Windibank. Voilà tout!" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you a room. "I am about to be married." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Where, then?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger III. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third This is what he says: "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Really! You surprise me." returning from some small jollification and was making his way make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "He is dead," cried several voices. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "You are all wrong." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem be best to do. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been open." seem to you to be relevant or not." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be hair?' Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been in the port of London." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at astonishment. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin overpowering excitement and concern. "How can you tell that?" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and manager. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "It goes to the housekeeper's room." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his never will be, entirely cleared up. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the too. eat it." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me been with you?" newspaper selections." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason she to prove their authenticity?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, you." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from unkempt, staring out at me. "Precisely." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of was once confined in the cab my mission was practically examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of business." thin legs towards the fire. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I not fit the lock." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. rose-bushes. of Fenchurch Street." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have his fortune, and I went back to pa. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I tied." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "It is his hat."