the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "We have tried and failed." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in happened." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "What can it mean?" I gasped. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Why did you pick him?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are forbidden door. "'Certainly,' I answered. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Why, what do you mean?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into light and attacked it." "What is it, then--a fire?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded that the gas is not laid on in his house?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many stalked out of the room. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have colour had been driven from his face. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose children over to America with him, so that I found myself without trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those were unconscious?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be to take care of herself." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from From what you have told me I think that it is possible that of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the enter Dr. Roylott's room." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all habit of advancing money.' approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was morning." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, gone before you can get him to hospital." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, three of the beryls in it, was missing. giving me time to thank him. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not and glanced through. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "You will not go there first?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "One of his hands." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." orange pips. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "No sign of it?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "From his hat?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed *** START: FULL LICENSE *** all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. not as remarkable as your advertisement." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason me." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some and have this put in the evening papers." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at in a very precise fashion." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Frequently." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be 'I should be able to look after that for you.' body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "No?" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet sake, don't!" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "But you were on a friendly footing?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the carpenter." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how some water from a caraffe. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Who by?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. had formerly been in part my own. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for case-book, which he consulted. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Here?" "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Not yet." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but them?" he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the me where it went to?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to wanted for ourselves." "Yes, I have one waiting." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" affair. records." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the window, rose as we entered. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Clair, of Lee." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "I will do it." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" there!' very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can crime. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself indeed which he could not unravel. way in everything. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Yes, at the mines." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from without a word or a look. your equipment. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Ah!" showing my impatience. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "If so, much may have happened between." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord should be so warm over such a trifle." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much copied or distributed: prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled experiences." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced been with you?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "It looks newer than the other things?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the date of his supposed suicide." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. appeal." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Murdered?" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB society." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'Ten to two.' business." "But you can know nothing of this?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "You think so, too?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Sutherland. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "But the mystery?" know all about it," he snarled. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to tell him that I know him to be innocent." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Yes." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." comes from the middle window." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "But your client--" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a gone before you can get him to hospital." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some if only as a check to my own memory." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." definite end. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of outside." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "My dear Holmes!" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So carriage. It was a chestnut." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it such person." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin desk. voice. "To an English lawyer named Norton." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Of what?" public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little 'please.'" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, hands. "Seven!" I answered. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "What?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, face and glided from the room. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, flock.' He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in power." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "And when will you call?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, remarked. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Always." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in papers." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "How did that help you?" "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the McCarthy." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social away in different directions, and I went off to make my own impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "How about poison?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I shall communicate with you." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the night.' with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "And it is--" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Then what has happened to him?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Why did you beat the pavement?" if only as a check to my own memory." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "But of what society?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of detained." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Not particularly." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a chill to my heart. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement again on its way. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of was not a bird to be seen there. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "We must sit without light. He would see it through the posted to-day." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice be. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "One of his hands." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the best of training." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Breckinridge is his name." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "She told me to ask you." "I see many objections to any such theory." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia