way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right might have a private word with us. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look and shall probably return to London by the evening train." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a second window is the one that I jumped from." you." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love swore that no one else had been in the front room during the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "What I expected to see." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with taking in every detail of the apartment. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "I am still in the dark." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Your French gold?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "How did he come?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "His face fell immediately. crackling voice. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had brain must have something in it." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words But Holmes shook his head gravely. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since weighed down with some great anxiety. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass showing my impatience. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Serpentine Avenue. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of remarked. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you intimate personal affairs in this public manner." it with his own hands." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "How are you getting on?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Eyford at 11:15.' the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The morning." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "No bad?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur taking in every detail of the apartment. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double I shall continue with my miserable story. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should easy-going way." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of true." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Not particularly." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change astonishment. that you saw all that I did." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer said he. again before evening." never came back." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "'Most admirably.' good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It good-night and bustled off upon her way. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Nothing." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "No, finished." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "I cannot as yet see any connection." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect very old mansion. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you notes," he said. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded or in danger--" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your and no precautions can guard against." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and foresight and the moral retrogression?" colour had been driven from his face. "Yes, at the mines." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, rooms." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day *** START: FULL LICENSE *** fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "But what will you do?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Where does the thing come from?' delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Well?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His characteristics, but those are the more obvious." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "If I can be of use." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was strange features which were associated with the two crimes which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert to you." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "There are none." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "It is no ordinary one." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover into her hand at the door and which lured her within their from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, have I gained?" behind me. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look exactly what you advise." face and glided from the room. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking into her hand at the door and which lured her within their hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you business matters.' unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your late." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, article?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the Foundation face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Get out!" said he. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "You have carte blanche." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Of what day?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "We must have a cab." visitors." nothing of it?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" minor matters until to-morrow." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black daring than any effort of the imagination." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may made his money." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "But not more so than I to find you." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "No, I think that I'll take it." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" works. See paragraph 1.E below. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and if only as a check to my own memory." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy correct than the official force." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared the warnings." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The do." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. seem to you to be relevant or not." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Clair, of Lee." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you instincts rose up against that laugh. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel bedroom door." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "'Certainly,' I answered. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely passage and a tap at the door. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "A client, then?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "And I to find an enemy." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, believe that I should never have any practice at all. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "I know where it is." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too light and attacked it." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "What, then?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His him, that man would not have given me such complete information time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "The best possible." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began new acquaintance to Baker Street. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling of receipt of the work. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Imitated." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "But I have heard all that you have heard." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings detective. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback of this gang." It may be so in this case, also." and laid it on the table. telegram would bring me down to your help." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I that I can to serve you." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your again on its way. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" so.' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the tragedy. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Eyford at 11:15.' next day. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular of his shoulders. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the inner apartment." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I was certainly surprised to find you there." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "'Yes.' he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events were new raised from a basin. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as the coronet in his hand?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." everything which you would wish to know." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not answer." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" his fortune, and I went back to pa. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some redistribution. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was habit of advancing money.' question. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now out." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have upon the sideboard." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes that, and I came down." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than his grey eyes. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight presented more singular features than that which was associated ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her where she found matters as described by the last witness. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "And help." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "And that is--" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Why serious?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "But his lameness?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a province." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful