"You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one opened a pocket-book and took out a note. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "In heaven's name, what for?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "'What do you call purely nominal?' floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "The rest you will leave in our hands." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "VIOLET HUNTER." For additional contact information: emerged. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We strode off upon his way. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "The vanishing of the lady." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it lips." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by bill, which interests me deeply." "How often?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Holmes." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Your French gold?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Quite so." "And how did you verify them?" "By all means." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out what I may call a really hard day's work." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Holmes' thin, eager face. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my you for a few hours?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Young McCarthy must be got off, however." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "That you are never beaten." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a call for it in person on Monday morning.' heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I families. Now for the facts. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the coronet at all injured?" "VIOLET HUNTER." his wife has ceased to love him." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "And you thought he was pulled back?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "But you can know nothing of this?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "No sign of it?" McCarthy." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Ample." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I cause to be." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the stable lane now." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "How do you know, then?" served to weaken the effect. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." might help us?" becomes even more simple." distinguish the words: course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary the bottom.' likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Nothing." Munro.' you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had about here speaks of his kindness to him." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I introspective fashion. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue best detective that ever lived. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." generous with you in money matters.' "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "The knees of his trousers." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang made him keep the appointment." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that during which he might have communicated with his friend the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Very well, sir. And this stone?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "How are you getting on?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would locked. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were back to my heart. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and What do you deduce from it?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and wanted for ourselves." point in the dark hollow of his hand. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I a very grave face. "None. Neville wrote those words." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me own family. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "What have you to say now?" to change my dress. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, danger is over." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I don't say that. Perhaps." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his is four-and-twenty." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "The best possible." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is discontent upon his features. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "What will you say?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began chance." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this breakfast and whispered something to her husband. to tackle the facts." "The murder was done with it." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "No, I am descending." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I don't believe it." "I see no marks." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Very much so." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "To an end?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square situation." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "My dear Holmes!" "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "How do you know, then?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP official police." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is deduce something from that?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then directly by questioning you." lamp in his hand. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "'And the work?' weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as fluttered off among the others. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "In what way?" asked Holmes. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." particular state visit http://pglaf.org whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all writing, and yet I know it well." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was I have it here in my museum." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" question," said Holmes, smiling. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "I have hopes." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to off." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had learned something! Where are the gems?" and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his vanished into the darkness. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way of a light. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining key of the affair now." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. you." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. happened." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began points to suicide?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet instincts rose up against that laugh. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he some city in a dream. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project disturbance in my wife." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "And you can do nothing until then?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Count Von Kramm." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Yes?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It time." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I do you make of it all?" "VIOLET HUNTER." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "You forget that I know nothing about it." trifles." "How do you know, then?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your disappearance of these gems?" The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's you came in." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent prison!" power." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how quite distinctive." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton call for it in person on Monday morning.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded your equipment. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, kindly on the shoulder. society." experiences." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Not social, then?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon tell me that you intended to go into harness." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project maid will bring up your coffee." crime. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating leave you to your papers for a little." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during said I. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the matter." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing door?" calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the to-night's adventure." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. bled considerably." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Then I am your man." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Clair, of Lee." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a cup of tea. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." business." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Where could I find him?' and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the yourselves in at night?" this man was intellectual?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "But what is it you wish?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. be there in time for your coming." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all your Highness to the police-station?" arrangements." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'And the work?' me upon any point which I do not make clear." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the just called myself is not exactly my own." business in the City. She little knew what. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'I am sure if I had known--' "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a