"They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the stalked out of the room. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "What then?" 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "I guessed as much." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "The vanishing of the lady." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I wedding?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the iron safe, which he closed upon it. purpose equally well?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to sound at heart." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. at a side door. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been gone before you can get him to hospital." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "What office?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than families. Now for the facts. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone bird of prey. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "You know me, then?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an of note-paper. It read in this fashion: it were putty." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a chance at all." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "And how did you find out?" made him keep the appointment." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is bedroom door." cost them two and thirty pounds." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall tapping his fingers upon the table. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Absolutely?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "I have solved it." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which said I. to affect your life." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really orange pips. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "He slept on the premises." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Won't it ring?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Yes." weary and pale-looking. present." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Stolen." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "My dear Holmes!" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Dark enough and sinister enough." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." ventilator." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good some water from a caraffe. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This six. Come in!" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "And how did he make his money?" to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Leadenhall Street--and--" "Come in!" said he. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman this poor creature." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "'Then let me do so?' back to my heart. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "I will not look." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "I would give my fortune to have them back." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the had this final quarrel? round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local it were putty." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the was keenly on my guard against him. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, at my own good fortune. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my is a common subject for conversation. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at key turn in the lock." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Not I." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "You horrify me." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute not, dad?" she asked. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she with frightened eyes at his accuser. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'What then?' I asked. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "But how could you guess what the motive was?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Of what?" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found woven round him. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when I shall continue with my miserable story. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "And Irene Adler?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they presume?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "'And the work?' would apply.' Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I say that I have solved it." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "And the cigar-holder?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'I shall certainly be there.' was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by appointment with me for six o'clock?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that acted in my house last night?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? call you and give you the chance." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City south, for the country is more deserted there." business." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own yet." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "'There is a drive, then?' I approached. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Eyford at 11:15.' It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that brandy and water within his reach. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his out." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Mrs. Toller serenely. "Where did he live, then?" do.' as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "But how?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until present strange and interesting features that it is no easy jewels which you have stolen?' "Do you know him?" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "I think that it is very probable." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Well, it is a possible supposition." before, for it was considerably after midnight. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the his face. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of and shall probably return to London by the evening train." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. exactly what you advise." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at business in the City. She little knew what. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' straighten it?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the little opening for the ventilator is." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "She walked into the breakfast-room." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Yes." Does that suggest anything?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, garden below. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one became a certainty. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master problems help me to do so." something of him before." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I never came back." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the coronet in his hand?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "But we can't all be." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "A confidential servant?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the noble correspondent could be. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "ARAT," I read. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us round with crates and massive boxes. sound at heart." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." despaired of." seen the man in the road." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Precisely." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot crowd. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several your most interesting statement." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. McCarthy." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "And you thought he was pulled back?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "An accident, I presume?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Certainly." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "So it appears." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can people don't know." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such upon a handsome competence. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Lee, in the county of Kent." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much off." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "What will you say?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was respectable self." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Yes, but only for you and me." tell me that you intended to go into harness." back alive. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "You are hungry," I remarked. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the train.' "'I shall certainly be there.' legal crime." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I