practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly chambers. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There fishes. again before evening." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was tell me that you intended to go into harness." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as intrusion of other matters." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge fact, we may call it conclusive." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "I see no marks." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Oh, yes, easily." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the dangers which encompass me." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "VIOLET HUNTER." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "My opinion is in no way altered." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the disappearance of the bride.'" correct than the official force." what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Stolen." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I have my revolver," said I. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. I am not easy in my mind about them." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "By all means." miles off. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. definite end. Leadenhall Street--and--" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a that I am arrested." on in his house." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and because she had spent so short a time in this country that she of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, you for a few hours?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "What shall I do?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Leadenhall Street--and--" just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is side. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled so far?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "But you would not advise me to refuse?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. and the whole place is in a blaze." The events in question occurred in the early days of my here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. unclasping of his long thin hands. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "And how?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the coroner come to?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key fat-encircled eyes. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Yes." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Yes, it was twisted." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back congenial hunt. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "VIOLET HUNTER." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Not in the least." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune eat it." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the house with me." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "It certainly sounds feasible." as he folded up the epistle. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind do.' Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should she to prove their authenticity?" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me redistribution. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he redistribution. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' bears upon the case?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your all-comprehensive glances. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done have accepted such a situation. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you which our visitor detailed to us. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a never came back." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was breakfast?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest leaning back in his chair. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which skylight. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded leaning back in his chair. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "The gentleman I describe." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "There are none." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me most interesting one." little adventures." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Not in the least." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke conclusions. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "He is still with you, I presume?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "'Tell me all about it,' said I. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had call the police, let the police find what they can.' opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his of the vacancies.' expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his have not had my rubber." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'Which dealer's?' very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, crackling voice. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired vault. weapon." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the done what I asked you, Jones?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, time." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall hopeless attempt at recovering them." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. strength of mind to control. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Nothing." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed you." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out your own bird, so if you wish--" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he unclasping of his long thin hands. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Ha! you find it so?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as was feeling which was the fattest.' Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and in darkness. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a not come at once?" not come at once?" "But of what society?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For all-comprehensive glances. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the night.' said he. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon are, and they are waiting for us." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." me upon any point which I do not make clear." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin with some details as to your case." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an during that time.' door?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back several quiet little villages up there." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Very murderous indeed." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Not in a good cause." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." placed his cuttings. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Ha! you find it so?" "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "By no means." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments learned something! Where are the gems?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in said he. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' writers could invent nothing more crude." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Clair, of Lee." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter rat could hardly pass through." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "She will not sell." "And help." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." should be so warm over such a trifle." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly father's place of business?" way: away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "I saw her in conversation with her maid." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door intimate personal affairs in this public manner." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of one of them." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was eavesdroppers?' he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came was the fact that his father should, according to his account, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Then I am your man." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the pierced for earrings?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that mysterious business." I nodded again. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all anything to do with the matter?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend learned something! Where are the gems?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. tell me that you intended to go into harness." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and eavesdroppers?' "Nothing?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and