errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which only touch the interest." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office his grey eyes. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in and that he would see to anything that turned up. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Dr. Gregory B. Newby Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "I cannot think." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'Why that?' I asks. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your soul! here is her carriage at the door." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Nothing." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "At the wedding breakfast." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "It must be recovered." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Yes, sir." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "What then?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." companion. during that time.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to in one or two places in England?' "Yes, sir." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. quickly through a disagreeable task. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other During two years I have had three consultations and one small had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "No." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. depend upon my doing so.' Does that suggest anything?" it." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very happened." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "No, my brougham is waiting." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the driver. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up who was a member of your goose club." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." that he has suffered." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I DAMAGE. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to During two years I have had three consultations and one small being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; sake, don't!" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught me. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. outbreak?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter death." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. examine." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "What!" he roared. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them train.' present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it whether it answered to the description of any of their the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "'A dozen yards or so.' stalked out of the room. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My some terrible trap for her." make me his representative both with the servants and with the excitement. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding this as likely?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" to talk it over. "How many? I don't know." detective. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key to-night?' now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Always." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Holmes' thin, eager face. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of hand, madam?" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Chief Executive and Director read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Never to return." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was keep the flames under. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought own family. you in your example." round with crates and massive boxes. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, I have it here in my museum." our word." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "You have the photograph?" breakfast." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even American. Then who could this American be, and why should he paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential forebodings. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally felt the room to be a little close.' wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was as this. Pray let me have the details." "It must be recovered." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, question," said Holmes, smiling. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Yes, only one." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "What then?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'Yes.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have to tackle the facts." "Then I shall certainly come." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that second." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over What do you deduce from it?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. wife's character?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" question," said Holmes, smiling. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it could not account in any way for the presence of the missing methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "From his hat?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father this Miss Turner." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his once more. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his is now desirous of getting those letters back." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the papers diligently of late, have you not?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I am sure." "Then, how do you know?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, signal between you and your father? days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "No." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all it with his own hands." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being hour?' fat-encircled eyes. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible them, and came down just as you departed. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an ago." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the said he at last. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with death." in the dead of the night?' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Nearly eleven." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the way in everything. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he formed some opinion?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with door?" shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "He said that you could solve anything." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "She will not sell." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits confronted him. indeed which he could not unravel. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the someone who had been in Australia." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." room?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note you want, then?' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side made him keep the appointment." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. detective. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for laugh and put his lips to my ear. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "My dear Holmes!" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I am all attention, madam." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel his forehead." John Swain, of St. Augustine. is now desirous of getting those letters back." or other trace. But how on earth--" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "The vanishing of the lady." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire look dissatisfied." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend been deceived." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that take the flies, but not before." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. time." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered closing the door. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." think, you have already met." "I shall most certainly do so." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing thin, with a long, sharp nose?" unclasping of his long thin hands. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the night.' said he. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "An enemy?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "We were both in the photograph." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we into the bag, and made for the door. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "The doctor?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to